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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.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 4 · Chapter 21: Instructions by Mahārāja Pṛthu
4.21.114.21.13

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.21.12

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
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

सर्वत्रास्खलितादेश: सप्तद्वीपैकदण्डधृक् ।

अन्यत्र ब्राह्मणकुलादन्यत्राच्युतगोत्रत: ॥ १२ ॥

sarvatrāskhalitādeśaḥ

sapta-dvīpaika-daṇḍa-dhṛk

anyatra brāhmaṇa-kulād

anyatrācyuta-gotrataḥ

Translation

Mahārāja Pṛthu was an unrivaled king and possessed the scepter for ruling all the seven islands on the surface of the globe. No one could disobey his irrevocable orders but the saintly persons, the brāhmaṇas and the descendants of the Supreme Personality of Godhead [the Vaiṣṇavas].

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotional Identity Transcends Bodily Labels

  1. 1

    Mahārāja Pṛthu ruled all seven islands, and his orders could not be disobeyed. Yet he did not issue orders to control the brāhmaṇas or Vaiṣṇavas.

  2. 2

    Every living entity is a part and parcel of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Under material influence, one forgets this relationship and identifies with the body.

  3. 3

    In Kṛṣṇa consciousness, one belongs to Acyuta-gotra, beyond caste, creed, color and nationality. A Vaiṣṇava is one who serves the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Key points from the purport
  • Such orders, however, were never issued to control saintly persons or the descendants of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Viṣṇu.
  • Actually every living entity is a part and parcel, or a son, of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • Material designations create differentiation in terms of caste, color, creed, nationality, etc. Different gotras, or family designations, are distinctions in terms of the material body, but when one comes to Kṛṣṇa consciousness he immediately becomes one of the Acyuta-gotra, or descendants of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and thus becomes transcendental to all considerations of caste, creed, color and nationality.

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

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 4.21.12 quotesBG 5.18

This is indicated in Bhagavad-gītā (5.18) by the words paṇḍitāḥ sama-darśinaḥ.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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. sarvatraeverywhere
  2. askhalitairrevocable
  3. ādeśaḥorder
  4. sapta-dvīpaseven islands
  5. ekaone
  6. daṇḍa-dhṛkthe ruler who holds the scepter
  7. anyatraexcept
  8. brāhmaṇa-kulātbrāhmaṇas and saintly persons
  9. anyatraexcept
  10. acyuta-gotrataḥdescendants of the Supreme Personality of Godhead (Vaiṣṇavas)
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.21

    In this verse: “king”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 4.21

    In this verse: “material”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do I let bodily labels obscure my understanding of someone’s relationship with the Supreme Lord?

Practice

When meeting someone today, pause to remember that this living entity is a part and parcel of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotional Identity Transcends Bodily LabelsThis 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.

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