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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
4.21.374.21.39

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.21.38

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
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

ब्रह्मण्यदेव: पुरुष: पुरातनो

नित्यं हरिर्यच्चरणाभिवन्दनात् ।

अवाप लक्ष्मीमनपायिनीं यशो

जगत्पवित्रं च महत्तमाग्रणी: ॥ ३८ ॥

brahmaṇya-devaḥ puruṣaḥ purātano

nityaṁ harir yac-caraṇābhivandanāt

avāpa lakṣmīm anapāyinīṁ yaśo

jagat-pavitraṁ ca mahattamāgraṇīḥ

Translation

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, the ancient, eternal Godhead, who is foremost amongst all great personalities, obtained the opulence of His staunch reputation, which purifies the entire universe, by worshiping the lotus feet of those brāhmaṇas and Vaiṣṇavas.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Learn Respect from Kṛṣṇa’s Example

  1. 1

    Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, protects brahminical culture and the cow. Goodness and Vaiṣṇava culture help one appreciate Him, whereas ignorance and passion make this difficult.

  2. 2

    The Lord is eternally perfect and needs no material gain. His respect for brāhmaṇas and Vaiṣṇavas teaches us to honor them, cultivate brahminical qualities and protect cows.

  3. 3

    Unlike material wealth and fame, the Lord’s opulences exist eternally. Discussing His opulences purifies the universe.

Key points from the purport
  • Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the prime protector of brahminical culture and the cow.
  • Yac-caraṇābhivandanāt: Pṛthu Mahārāja said that the Supreme Personality of Godhead attained this opulence of eternal fame simply by worshiping the lotus feet of the brāhmaṇas.
  • Although He is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa offered His respects to Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhira and Kuntī.

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 4.21.38 quotesBG 3.21

The Lord says in Bhagavad-gītā (3.21), yad yad ācarati śreṣṭhas tat tad evetaro janaḥ: “If the leading personalities behave in a certain manner, others follow them automatically.”

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. brahmaṇya-devaḥthe Lord of the brahminical culture
  2. puruṣaḥthe Supreme Personality
  3. purātanaḥthe oldest
  4. nityameternal
  5. hariḥthe Personality of Godhead
  6. yatwhose
  7. caraṇalotus feet
  8. abhivandanātby means of worshiping
3

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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “worshiping”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “wealth”, “material”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 4.21

    In this verse: “purifies”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can Kṛṣṇa’s example guide the way I show respect to His devotees?

Practice

Offer a sincere expression of respect to a Vaiṣṇava today.

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 todayLearn Respect from Kṛṣṇa’s ExampleThis 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 4.21.38? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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