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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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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
4.21.424.21.44

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.21.43

Mukti· Liberation
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

तेषामहं पादसरोजरेणु-

मार्या वहेयाधिकिरीटमायु: ।

यं नित्यदा बिभ्रत आशु पापं

नश्यत्यमुं सर्वगुणा भजन्ति ॥ ४३ ॥

teṣām ahaṁ pāda-saroja-reṇum

āryā vaheyādhi-kirīṭam āyuḥ

yaṁ nityadā bibhrata āśu pāpaṁ

naśyaty amuṁ sarva-guṇā bhajanti

Translation

O respectable personalities present here, I beg the blessings of all of you that I may perpetually carry on my crown the dust of the lotus feet of such brāhmaṇas and Vaiṣṇavas until the end of my life. He who can carry such dust on his head is very soon relieved of all the reactions which arise from sinful life, and eventually he develops all good and desirable qualities.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Humility Before Brāhmaṇas and Vaiṣṇavas

  1. 1

    Pṛthu Mahārāja begs to carry the dust of the lotus feet of brāhmaṇas and Vaiṣṇavas on his crown throughout his life. Such dust removes sinful reactions and brings good qualities.

  2. 2

    Unflinching faith in the Supreme Personality of Godhead and His pure devotee develops all the good qualities of the demigods. Taking shelter of a pure Vaiṣṇava is essential for understanding the Supreme Lord.

  3. 3

    A king’s crown is simply a burden if he does not follow the instructions of brāhmaṇas and Vaiṣṇavas. Pṛthu Mahārāja shows how a leader can truly benefit the citizens.

Key points from the purport
  • It is said that one who has unflinching faith in the Supreme Personality of Godhead, which means unflinching faith in the Vaiṣṇava or the pure devotee of the Supreme Lord, develops all the good qualities of the demigods: yasyāsti bhaktir bhagavaty akiñcanā sarvair guṇais tatra samāsate surāḥ (Bhāg. 5.18.12).
  • Prahlāda Mahārāja also said, naiṣāṁ matis tāvad urukramāṅghrim (Bhāg. 7.5.32): unless one takes the dust of the lotus feet of a pure Vaiṣṇava on one’s head, one cannot understand what the Supreme Personality of Godhead is, and unless one knows the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one’s life remains imperfect.
  • The crown of a king is simply a big load if the king or head of the state does not actually bear the dust of the lotus feet of brāhmaṇas and Vaiṣṇavas.

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 4.21.43 quotesSB 5.18.12

It is said that one who has unflinching faith in the Supreme Personality of Godhead, which means unflinching faith in the Vaiṣṇava or the pure devotee of the Supreme Lord, develops all the good qualities of the demigods: yasyāsti bhaktir bhagavaty akiñcanā sarvair guṇais tatra samāsate surāḥ.

The purport of SB 4.21.43 quotesSB 7.5.32

Prahlāda Mahārāja also said, naiṣāṁ matis tāvad urukramāṅghrim: unless one takes the dust of the lotus feet of a pure Vaiṣṇava on one’s head, one cannot understand what the Supreme Personality of Godhead is, and unless one knows the Supreme Personality of Godhead, one’s life remains imperfect.

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. teṣāmof all of them
  2. ahamI
  3. pādafeet
  4. sarojalotus
  5. reṇumdust
  6. āryāḥO respectable persons
  7. vaheyashall bear
  8. adhiup to
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.21

    In this verse: “king’s”, “citizens”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 4.21

    In this verse: “blessings”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

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

    In this verse: “sinful”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I willing to receive guidance from devotees, even when I hold a position of responsibility?

Practice

Choose one instruction from a pure devotee that you have read, and make a small effort to follow it 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.

The purport quotesSB 5.18.12SB 7.5.32

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

Live this todayHumility Before Brāhmaṇas and VaiṣṇavasThis 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 4.21.43? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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