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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
4.21.434.21.45

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.21.44

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

गुणायनं शीलधनं कृतज्ञं

वृद्धाश्रयं संवृणतेऽनु सम्पद: ।

प्रसीदतां ब्रह्मकुलं गवां च

जनार्दन: सानुचरश्च मह्यम् ॥ ४४ ॥

guṇāyanaṁ śīla-dhanaṁ kṛta-jñaṁ

vṛddhāśrayaṁ saṁvṛṇate ’nu sampadaḥ

prasīdatāṁ brahma-kulaṁ gavāṁ ca

janārdanaḥ sānucaraś ca mahyam

Translation

Whoever acquires the brahminical qualifications — whose only wealth is good behavior, who is grateful, and who takes shelter of experienced persons — gets all the opulence of the world. I therefore wish that the Supreme Personality of Godhead and His associates be pleased with the brāhmaṇa class, with the cows and with me.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Gratitude and Guidance Develop Good Qualities

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, respects and protects brāhmaṇas, brahminical culture and cows. He is always associated with His followers and devotees.

  2. 2

    A devotee’s wealth is good behavior and gratitude. Everyone should be grateful to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who maintains all living entities and supplies their necessities.

  3. 3

    True seniority comes from advancement in knowledge, not merely from age. Taking shelter of a bona fide spiritual master helps one acquire good qualities and become trained in good behavior.

Key points from the purport
  • The living entity who is therefore grateful to the Supreme Personality of Godhead is certainly qualified with good characteristics.
  • When one actually attains good qualities, becomes grateful for the mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and takes shelter of a bona fide spiritual master, he is endowed with all opulence.
  • Therefore Pṛthu Mahārāja invokes the blessings and mercy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, with His associates, devotees, Vaiṣṇavas, brāhmaṇas and cows.

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. guṇa-ayanamone who has acquired all the good qualities
  2. śīla-dhanamone whose wealth is good behavior
  3. kṛta-jñamone who is grateful
  4. vṛddha-āśrayamone who takes shelter of the learned
  5. saṁvṛṇateachieves
  6. anucertainly
  7. sampadaḥall opulences
  8. prasīdatāmbe pleased upon
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “wealth”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 4.21

    In this verse: “shelter”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotees”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can gratitude for the Lord’s care improve my behavior today?

Practice

Name three necessities you have received, and offer a brief prayer of gratitude to Kṛṣṇa.

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 todayGratitude and Guidance Develop Good QualitiesThis 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 4.21.44? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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