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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
4.21.254.21.27

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.21.26

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:King Pṛthusince 4.21.25inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

यूयं तदनुमोदध्वं पितृदेवर्षयोऽमला: ।

कर्तु: शास्तुरनुज्ञातुस्तुल्यं यत्प्रेत्य तत्फलम् ॥ २६ ॥

yūyaṁ tad anumodadhvaṁ

pitṛ-devarṣayo ’malāḥ

kartuḥ śāstur anujñātus

tulyaṁ yat pretya tat phalam

Translation

I request all the purehearted demigods, forefathers and saintly persons to support my proposal, for after death the result of an action is equally shared by its doer, its director and its supporter.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Cooperation Shares in Spiritual Results

  1. 1

    The doer, director and supporter of an action equally share its result after death. Pṛthu Mahārāja therefore asked the purehearted assembly to approve his proposal.

  2. 2

    His government followed Vedic injunctions and helped everyone perform their respective duties. Its chief purpose was to elevate people to Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

  3. 3

    Those who cooperated with Pṛthu Mahārāja would share in his spiritual benefit. Likewise, those who cooperate with the authorized Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement share in the results of those actively spreading it.

Key points from the purport
  • The government of Pṛthu Mahārāja was perfect because it was administered exactly according to the orders of the Vedic injunctions.
  • King Pṛthu therefore wanted his citizens to cooperate fully with him, for if they assented, they would enjoy the same profit as he after death.
  • Since the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement going on at the present moment is genuine, perfect and authorized and is following in the footsteps of Pṛthu Mahārāja, anyone who cooperates with this movement or accepts its principles will get the same result as the workers who are actively propagating Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

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. yūyamall you respectable persons who are present here
  2. tatthat
  3. anumodadhvamkindly approve of my proposal
  4. pitṛpersons coming from Pitṛloka
  5. devapersons coming from the heavenly planets
  6. ṛṣayaḥgreat sages and saintly persons
  7. amalāḥthose who are cleansed of all sinful activities
  8. kartuḥthe performer
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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

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 4.21

    In this verse: “death”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

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

    In this verse: “duties”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.21

    In this verse: “government”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What spiritual work am I supporting through my choices and cooperation?

Practice

Offer one small, practical act of help to someone engaged in sharing Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayCooperation Shares in Spiritual ResultsThis 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 4.21.26? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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