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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.
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Canto 4 · Chapter 21: Instructions by Mahārāja Pṛthu
4.21.354.21.37

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.21.36

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
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

अहो ममामी वितरन्त्यनुग्रहं

हरिं गुरुं यज्ञभुजामधीश्वरम् ।

स्वधर्मयोगेन यजन्ति मामका

निरन्तरं क्षोणितले द‍ृढव्रता: ॥ ३६ ॥

aho mamāmī vitaranty anugrahaṁ

hariṁ guruṁ yajña-bhujām adhīśvaram

sva-dharma-yogena yajanti māmakā

nirantaraṁ kṣoṇi-tale dṛḍha-vratāḥ

Translation

The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the master and enjoyer of the results of all sacrifices, and He is the supreme spiritual master as well. All of you citizens on the surface of the globe who have a relationship with me and are worshiping Him by dint of your occupational duties are bestowing your mercy upon me. Therefore, O my citizens, I thank you.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotional Service Brings Mutual Benefit

  1. 1

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead is the enjoyer of all sacrifices and the original spiritual master. As Paramātmā within the heart, He encourages the soul to surrender and engage in devotional service.

  2. 2

    The Lord helps the conditioned soul by manifesting as spiritual master both internally and externally. His guidance leads toward surrender and service to Him.

  3. 3

    Mahārāja Pṛthu humbly thanked the citizens already engaged in devotional service through their occupational duties. When rulers and citizens serve the Supreme Lord, they help one another and receive mutual benefit.

Key points from the purport
  • The Supreme Godhead in His Paramātmā feature is present in everyone’s heart, and He is always trying to induce the individual soul to surrender unto Him and to engage in devotional service; therefore He is the original spiritual master.
  • Therefore he thanked them in a humble way for engaging in devotional service and thus bestowing their mercy upon him.
  • In other words, in a state where the citizens and the head of state are engaged in devotional service unto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, they help one another and are mutually benefited.

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. ahoO all of you
  2. mamaunto me
  3. amīall of them
  4. vitarantidistributing
  5. anugrahammercy
  6. harimthe Supreme Personality of Godhead
  7. gurumthe supreme spiritual master
  8. yajña-bhujāmall the demigods eligible to accept yajña offerings
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 4.21

    In this verse: “worshiping”, “devotional service”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.21

    In this verse: “citizens”, “rulers”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

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

    In this verse: “duties”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Whose devotional service has helped me, and how can I acknowledge that help humbly?

Practice

Thank one person today for the help their devotional service has given you.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotional Service Brings Mutual 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 4.21.36? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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