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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
4.21.224.21.24

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.21.23

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:King Pṛthusince 4.21.23inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

तस्य मे तदनुष्ठानाद्यानाहुर्ब्रह्मवादिन: ।

लोका: स्यु: कामसन्दोहा यस्य तुष्यति दिष्टद‍ृक् ॥ २३ ॥

tasya me tad-anuṣṭhānād

yān āhur brahma-vādinaḥ

lokāḥ syuḥ kāma-sandohā

yasya tuṣyati diṣṭa-dṛk

Translation

Mahārāja Pṛthu said: I think that upon the execution of my duties as king, I shall be able to achieve the desirable objectives described by experts in Vedic knowledge. This destination is certainly achieved by the pleasure of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the seer of all destiny.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Perfection Means Satisfying the Supreme Lord

  1. 1

    The Vedas are śabda-brahma, or transcendental sound, not ordinary language. Their evidence should be accepted as final authority.

  2. 2

    Proper performance of duty does not automatically secure the desired result. Success depends upon the satisfaction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  3. 3

    The perfection of one's appointed duties is to satisfy the Supreme Lord. The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement teaches people the real goal and destiny of life.

Key points from the purport
  • It is not that if one executes his duty properly he is automatically promoted, for promotion depends upon the satisfaction of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • People do not know the laws of nature, which are the rulings of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement has therefore been started to give philosophers, scientists, and people in general the proper knowledge about the destiny of life.

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 4.21.23 quotesSB 7.5.30

According to Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (7.5.30), they are simply progressing to the darkest region of material existence (adānta-gobhir viśatāṁ tamisram).

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tasyahis
  2. memine
  3. tatthat
  4. anuṣṭhānātby executing
  5. yānthat which
  6. āhuḥis spoken
  7. brahma-vādinaḥby the experts in Vedic knowledge
  8. lokāḥplanets
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

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 4.21

    In this verse: “duties”, “duty”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.21

    In this verse: “king”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “knowledge”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do I measure success only by results, or also by whether my work pleases the Supreme Lord?

Practice

Before beginning one duty today, pause and make satisfying the Supreme Lord your purpose.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

The purport quotesSB 7.5.30

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 4.21's connections

Live this todayPerfection Means Satisfying the Supreme LordThis 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 4.21.23? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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