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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 4.21.28-29

Who is speaking and story frame

मनोरुत्तानपादस्य ध्रुवस्यापि महीपते: ।

प्रियव्रतस्य राजर्षेरङ्गस्यास्मत्पितु: पितु: ॥ २८ ॥

ईद‍ृशानामथान्येषामजस्य च भवस्य च ।

प्रह्लादस्य बलेश्चापि कृत्यमस्ति गदाभृता ॥ २९ ॥

manor uttānapādasya

dhruvasyāpi mahīpateḥ

priyavratasya rājarṣer

aṅgasyāsmat-pituḥ pituḥ

īdṛśānām athānyeṣām

ajasya ca bhavasya ca

prahlādasya baleś cāpi

kṛtyam asti gadābhṛtā

Translation

This is confirmed not only by the evidence of the Vedas but also by the personal behavior of great personalities like Manu, Uttānapāda, Dhruva, Priyavrata and my grandfather Aṅga, as well as by many other great personalities and ordinary living entities, exemplified by Mahārāja Prahlāda and Bali, all of whom are theists, believing in the existence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who carries a club.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Follow Saints, Scripture, and Spiritual Guidance

  1. 1

    The Vedas and the conduct of great personalities confirm the existence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Their example offers the safest path in life.

  2. 2

    Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura teaches that we should follow great saintly persons and books of knowledge under a spiritual master's guidance. These three sources of direction work together.

  3. 3

    A saintly person follows the Vedic injunctions, which are the Lord's orders. A spiritual master gives direction according to those injunctions and the lives of authorized personalities.

Key points from the purport
  • The best way to mold one’s life is to follow in the footsteps of the authorized personalities like those mentioned herein by Pṛthu Mahārāja, beginning with Svāyambhuva Manu.
  • The safest path in life is to follow such great personalities, especially those mentioned in the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.
  • The mahājanas, or great personalities, are Brahmā, Lord Śiva, Nārada Muni, Manu, the Kumāras, Prahlāda Mahārāja, Bali Mahārāja, Yamarāja, Bhīṣma, Janaka, Śukadeva Gosvāmī and Kapila Muni.

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. manoḥof Manu (Svāyambhuva Manu)
  2. uttānapādasyaof Uttānapāda, the father of Dhruva Mahārāja
  3. dhruvasyaof Dhruva Mahārāja
  4. apicertainly
  5. mahī-pateḥof the great king
  6. priyavratasyaof Priyavrata, in the family of Mahārāja Dhruva
  7. rājarṣeḥof great saintly kings
  8. aṅgasyaof the name Aṅga
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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

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 4.21

    In this verse: “safest”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “knowledge”

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Whose guidance am I following, and does it agree with scripture and saintly examples?

Practice

Reread one instruction in this purport and write down one way to follow it today.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

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Connected stories

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

Live this todayFollow Saints, Scripture, and Spiritual GuidanceThis 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 4.21.28-29? Get an answer from the verses themselves.