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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
4.21.464.21.48

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.21.47

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

हिरण्यकशिपुश्चापि भगवन्निन्दया तम: ।

विविक्षुरत्यगात्सूनो: प्रह्लादस्यानुभावत: ॥ ४७ ॥

hiraṇyakaśipuś cāpi

bhagavan-nindayā tamaḥ

vivikṣur atyagāt sūnoḥ

prahlādasyānubhāvataḥ

Translation

Similarly, Hiraṇyakaśipu, who by dint of his sinful activities always defied the supremacy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, entered into the darkest region of hellish life; but by the grace of his great son, Prahlāda Mahārāja, he also was delivered and went back home, back to Godhead.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Serve Without Bargaining, Care for Others

  1. 1

    Prahlāda Mahārāja refused a personal reward for his devotion. He regarded service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead in expectation of reward as mercantile business.

  2. 2

    Although his father had tortured him, Prahlāda Mahārāja begged the Lord to pardon him. The Lord granted this favor, and Hiraṇyakaśipu returned back home, back to Godhead.

  3. 3

    Pure devotees are compassionate toward those suffering in material existence and tolerate difficulties while trying to deliver them. The chief concern of a Vaiṣṇava is to deliver fallen souls.

Key points from the purport
  • Although his father tortured him and would have killed him had he himself not been killed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Prahlāda Mahārāja begged pardon for him from the Lord.
  • Prahlāda Mahārāja is the topmost example of a Vaiṣṇava, who is always compassionate toward sinful persons suffering a hellish life within this material world.
  • Like Prahlāda Mahārāja, all pure devotees of the Lord come to this material world with full compassion to deliver the sinful.

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. hiraṇyakaśipuḥthe father of Prahlāda Mahārāja
  2. caalso
  3. apiagain
  4. bhagavatof the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  5. nindayāby blaspheming
  6. tamaḥin the darkest region of hellish life
  7. vivikṣuḥentered
  8. atyagātwas delivered
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

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 4.21

    In this verse: “grace”, “favor”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotion”, “devotees”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 4.21

    In this verse: “compassionate”, “suffering”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I serving the Lord for a reward, or with a desire to serve and help others?

Practice

Offer a brief prayer to the Lord for the spiritual welfare of someone you find difficult to care for.

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 todayServe Without Bargaining, Care for OthersThis 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 4.21.47? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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