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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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Canto 4 · The Creation of the Fourth Order · 31 chapters

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
  2. 2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
  3. 3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
  4. 4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
  5. 5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
  6. 6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.
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Canto 4 · Chapter 21: Instructions by Mahārāja Pṛthu
4.21.104.21.12

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.21.11

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 4.21.11inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

मैत्रेय उवाच

गङ्गायमुनयोर्नद्योरन्तरा क्षेत्रमावसन् ।

आरब्धानेव बुभुजे भोगान् पुण्यजिहासया ॥ ११ ॥

maitreya uvāca

gaṅgā-yamunayor nadyor

antarā kṣetram āvasan

ārabdhān eva bubhuje

bhogān puṇya-jihāsayā

Translation

The great saintly sage Maitreya told Vidura: My dear Vidura, King Pṛthu lived in the tract of land between the two great rivers Ganges and Yamunā. Because he was very opulent, it appeared that he was enjoying his destined fortune in order to diminish the results of his past pious activities.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Pṛthu Was Not an Ordinary King

  1. 1

    Mahārāja Pṛthu was a directly empowered incarnation of Lord Viṣṇu and a great devotee. His enjoyment only appeared to result from past pious deeds.

  2. 2

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead nullifies the results of devotees’ past pious and impious activities. Pṛthu was therefore not subject to these reactions.

  3. 3

    The Lord, His incarnations and His devotees should not be considered ordinary people. Recognition must rest on authorized śāstras and ācāryas, as when Sanātana Gosvāmī recognized Lord Caitanya as Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Key points from the purport
  • The terms “pious” and “impious” are applicable only in reference to the activities of an ordinary living being.
  • But Mahārāja Pṛthu was a directly empowered incarnation of Lord Viṣṇu; therefore he was not subject to the reactions of pious or impious activities.
  • In the Brahma-saṁhitā it is said, karmāṇi nirdahati kintu ca bhakti-bhājām: for devotees the results of past pious and impious activities are nullified by the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

How it feels

Anger and disorder → Duty and devotion. Kingship shifts from domination to stewardship and renunciation.

Chapters 13–23 of Canto 4: Vena and Pṛthu: power, the Earth and stewardship. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 21: Instructions by Mahārāja Pṛthu

Pṛthu addresses an assembly about devotional service and respect for brāhmaṇas and Vaiṣṇavas.

Back to this verse in chapter 4.21
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. maitreyaḥ uvācathe great saint Maitreya said
  2. gaṅgāthe river Ganges
  3. yamunayoḥof the river Yamunā
  4. nadyoḥof the two rivers
  5. antarābetween
  6. kṣetramthe land
  7. āvasanliving there
  8. ārabdhāndestined
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.21

    In this verse: “king”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 4.21

    In this verse: “devotee”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can scriptural guidance help me avoid judging spiritual personalities by outward appearances?

Practice

Reread the purport’s explanation of Pṛthu’s freedom from past reactions, and write one sentence about the Supreme Lord’s protection of His devotees.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPṛthu Was Not an Ordinary KingThis verse's lesson: one practice and one question for today

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 4.21.11? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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