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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
4.21.194.21.21

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.21.20

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
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

चारु चित्रपदं श्लक्ष्णं मृष्टं गूढमविक्लवम् ।

सर्वेषामुपकारार्थं तदा अनुवदन्निव ॥ २० ॥

cāru citra-padaṁ ślakṣṇaṁ

mṛṣṭaṁ gūḍham aviklavam

sarveṣām upakārārthaṁ

tadā anuvadann iva

Translation

Mahārāja Pṛthu’s speech was very beautiful, full of metaphorical language, clearly understandable and very pleasing to hear. His words were all grave and certain. It appears that when he spoke, he expressed his personal realization of the Absolute Truth in order to benefit all who were present.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Speak Clearly for Others’ Benefit

  1. 1

    Mahārāja Pṛthu’s speech was beautiful and rich in metaphorical, ornamental language. It was also pleasing to hear.

  2. 2

    His words were clearly understandable, grave and certain. The purport emphasizes that they contained no doubt or ambiguity.

  3. 3

    Pṛthu spoke to benefit everyone present. The translation describes him as expressing his personal realization of the Absolute Truth.

Key points from the purport
  • Mahārāja Pṛthu was beautiful in his external bodily features, and his speech was also very glorious in all respects.
  • His words, which were nicely composed in highly metaphorical ornamental language, were pleasing to hear and were not only mellow but also very clearly understandable and without doubt or ambiguity.

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. cārubeautiful
  2. citra-padamflowery
  3. ślakṣṇamvery clear
  4. mṛṣṭamvery great
  5. gūḍhammeaningful
  6. aviklavamwithout any doubt
  7. sarveṣāmfor all
  8. upakāra-arthamjust to benefit them
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 4.21

    In this verse: “absolute truth”, “understandable”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Are my words both clear to others and intended for their benefit?

Practice

Before sending one message today, revise it to make its meaning clearer and its wording more pleasing and helpful.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySpeak Clearly for Others’ BenefitThis 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 4.21.20? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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