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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
4.21.414.21.43

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.21.42

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

यद्ब्रह्म नित्यं विरजं सनातनं

श्रद्धातपोमङ्गलमौनसंयमै: ।

समाधिना बिभ्रति हार्थद‍ृष्टये

यत्रेदमादर्श इवावभासते ॥ ४२ ॥

yad brahma nityaṁ virajaṁ sanātanaṁ

śraddhā-tapo-maṅgala-mauna-saṁyamaiḥ

samādhinā bibhrati hārtha-dṛṣṭaye

yatredam ādarśa ivāvabhāsate

Translation

In brahminical culture a brāhmaṇa’s transcendental position is eternally maintained because the injunctions of the Vedas are accepted with faith, austerity, scriptural conclusions, full sense and mind control, and meditation. In this way the real goal of life is illuminated, just as one’s face is fully reflected in a clear mirror.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

True Brahminical Culture Leads to Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    A brāhmaṇa is known by scriptural qualities and practice, not simply by birth. Faith, austerity, control of the mind and senses, and meditation help reveal life’s real goal.

  2. 2

    The ultimate conclusion of Vedic knowledge is to know Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Unwavering devotional service raises one above the modes of material nature.

  3. 3

    Accept what favors devotional service and reject what hinders it. Through faithful study, chanting and pure love, the devotee comes to see Kṛṣṇa clearly within the heart.

Key points from the purport
  • Actually that is a fact because simply by understanding Kṛṣṇa as He is, as described in Bhagavad-gītā (janma karma ca me divyam evaṁ yo vetti tattvataḥ), one becomes a perfect brāhmaṇa.
  • Therefore a devotee of Lord Kṛṣṇa is actually a perfect brāhmaṇa.
  • Because the ultimate goal of studying or understanding the Vedic knowledge is to find Kṛṣṇa, one who follows the Vedic principles as described above can from the very beginning see all the features of Lord Kṛṣṇa, the Absolute Truth, very distinctly, as one can see one’s own face completely reflected in a clear mirror.

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· 2

The purport of SB 4.21.42 quotesBG 15.15

Vedaiś ca sarvair aham eva vedyaḥ. The Vedic conclusion — the ultimate understanding, or Vedānta understanding — is knowledge of Kṛṣṇa.

The purport of SB 4.21.42 quotesBG 14.26

This is also confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (14.26): “One who engages in full devotional service and who does not fall down in any circumstance at once transcends the modes of material nature and thus comes to the level of Brahman.”

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. yatthat which
  2. brahmathe brahminical culture
  3. nityameternally
  4. virajamwithout contamination
  5. sanātanamwithout beginning
  6. śraddhāfaith
  7. tapaḥausterity
  8. maṅgalaauspicious
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: “devotional service”, “devotee”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 4.21

    In this verse: “chanting”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What can I accept or set aside today to make my devotional service stronger?

Practice

Take a quiet moment to chant attentively: Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayTrue Brahminical Culture Leads to KṛṣṇaThis 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.

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