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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
4.21.454.21.47

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.21.46

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 4.21.45inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

पुत्रेण जयते लोकानिति सत्यवती श्रुति: ।

ब्रह्मदण्डहत: पापो यद्वेनोऽत्यतरत्तम: ॥ ४६ ॥

putreṇa jayate lokān

iti satyavatī śrutiḥ

brahma-daṇḍa-hataḥ pāpo

yad veno ’tyatarat tamaḥ

Translation

They all declared that the Vedic conclusion that one can conquer the heavenly planets by the action of a putra, or son, was fulfilled, for the most sinful Vena, who had been killed by the curse of the brāhmaṇas, was now delivered from the darkest region of hellish life by his son, Mahārāja Pṛthu.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Raise Children for Devotional Life

  1. 1

    A son who delivers his father from the hellish condition called Put is called putra. Pṛthu Mahārāja delivered his sinful father, Vena, confirming the Vedic teaching.

  2. 2

    Religious marriage is not intended merely for sense gratification. Its purpose is to raise a son qualified to deliver his father from hellish life.

  3. 3

    A father’s duty is to become a Vaiṣṇava and raise his children as Vaiṣṇavas. Such a son can help deliver his father even if the father falls.

Key points from the purport
  • The purpose of marriage, therefore, is to have a putra, or son who is able to deliver his father, even if the father falls down to the hellish condition of Put.
  • The purpose of accepting a wife in religious marriage, as sanctioned in the Vedas, is to have a putra, a son qualified to deliver his father from the darkest region of hellish life.
  • It is therefore the duty of a father to become a Vaiṣṇava and raise his children to become Vaiṣṇavas; then even if by chance the father falls into a hellish life in his next birth, such a son can deliver him, as Mahārāja Pṛthu delivered his father.

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. putreṇaby the son
  2. jayateone becomes victorious
  3. lokānall the heavenly planets
  4. itithus
  5. satya-vatībecomes true
  6. śrutiḥthe Vedas
  7. brahma-daṇḍaby the curse of brāhmaṇas
  8. hataḥkilled
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

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

    In this verse: “religious”, “duty”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 4.21

    In this verse: “father”, “children”

  • 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

How does this teaching shift my view of family responsibility toward devotional life?

Practice

Set aside a few minutes today to study this teaching on becoming a Vaiṣṇava and nurturing devotion in family life.

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 todayRaise Children for Devotional LifeThis 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 4.21.46? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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