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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
4.21.28-294.21.31

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.21.30

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
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

दौहित्रादीनृते मृत्यो: शोच्यान् धर्मविमोहितान् ।

वर्गस्वर्गापवर्गाणां प्रायेणैकात्म्यहेतुना ॥ ३० ॥

dauhitrādīn ṛte mṛtyoḥ

śocyān dharma-vimohitān

varga-svargāpavargāṇāṁ

prāyeṇaikātmya-hetunā

Translation

Although abominable persons like my father, Vena, the grandson of death personified, are bewildered on the path of religion, all the great personalities like those mentioned agree that in this world the only bestower of the benedictions of religion, economic development, sense gratification, liberation or elevation to the heavenly planets is the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Success Depends on the Supreme Lord

  1. 1

    Vena rejected the Supreme Personality of Godhead and stopped Vedic sacrifices meant to satisfy Him. Pṛthu Mahārāja rejected this understanding of religion.

  2. 2

    Religion consists of the codes of law given by God. Morality, careful plans, and hard work alone do not explain why people receive different results.

  3. 3

    We depend on the Lord not only for liberation but also for ordinary necessities. Our efforts to overcome material obstacles cannot succeed without His favor.

Key points from the purport
  • King Vena, the father of Pṛthu Mahārāja, was condemned by the brāhmaṇas and saintly persons because of his denying the existence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and rejecting the method of satisfying Him by performance of Vedic sacrifice.
  • Modern civilization agrees with the principles of King Vena, but factually if we scrutinizingly study all the conditions of religion, economic development, sense gratification and liberation, we must accept the principles of the authority of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • Aside from liberation, even if we consider only the preliminary necessities of life — dharma, artha and kāma (religion, economic development and sense gratification) — we will see that they are not the same for everyone.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. dauhitra-ādīngrandsons like my father, Vena
  2. ṛteexcept
  3. mṛtyoḥof personified death
  4. śocyānabominable
  5. dharma-vimohitānbewildered on the path of religion
  6. vargareligion, economic development, sense gratification and liberation
  7. svargaelevation to the heavenly planets
  8. apavargāṇāmbeing freed from material contamination
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Āśraya · The summum bonum

    Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “sense gratification”, “material”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

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

    In this verse: “religion”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

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

    In this verse: “death”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Where do I assume that my effort alone guarantees success?

Practice

Before beginning one duty today, pause and acknowledge your dependence on the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

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.

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

Live this todaySuccess Depends on 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 4.21.30? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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