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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
4.21.484.21.50

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.21.49

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The audiencesince 4.21.49inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

अहो वयं ह्यद्य पवित्रकीर्ते

त्वयैव नाथेन मुकुन्दनाथा: ।

य उत्तमश्लोकतमस्य विष्णो-

र्ब्रह्मण्यदेवस्य कथां व्यनक्ति ॥ ४९ ॥

aho vayaṁ hy adya pavitra-kīrte

tvayaiva nāthena mukunda-nāthāḥ

ya uttamaślokatamasya viṣṇor

brahmaṇya-devasya kathāṁ vyanakti

Translation

The audience continued: Dear King Pṛthu, your reputation is the purest of all, for you are preaching the glories of the most glorified of all, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Lord of the brāhmaṇas. Since, due to our great fortune, we have you as our master, we think that we are living directly under the agency of the Lord.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Leadership That Represents the Supreme Lord

  1. 1

    Pṛthu Mahārāja’s reputation was pure because he preached the supremacy and glories of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Viṣṇu. This made him a proper representative of the Lord.

  2. 2

    The citizens felt that under Pṛthu Mahārāja’s protection they were directly under the Lord’s protection. The purport presents this as the proper basis for social steadiness.

  3. 3

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead maintains and leads all living entities. His representative’s primary responsibility is to protect brahminical culture and cows.

Key points from the purport
  • The citizens declared that through being under the protection of Mahārāja Pṛthu, they were directly under the protection of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • Since it is stated in the Vedas that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the maintainer and leader of all living entities, the king or the executive head of the government must be a representative of the Supreme Person.
  • How a king or leader of society can become the representative of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is also indicated in this verse by the statement that because Pṛthu Mahārāja was preaching the supremacy and the glories of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Viṣṇu, he was therefore a proper representative of the Lord.

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. ahooh, goodness
  2. vayamwe
  3. hicertainly
  4. adyatoday
  5. pavitra-kīrteO supreme purity
  6. tvayāby you
  7. evacertainly
  8. nāthenaby the Lord
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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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.21

    In this verse: “king”, “citizens”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

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

    In this verse: “glorified”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 4.21

    In this verse: “protection”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What qualities would help me recognize leadership that truly represents the Lord?

Practice

Write down the two responsibilities of a leader named here: glorifying the Lord and protecting brahminical culture and cows.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayLeadership That Represents the Supreme LordThis 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 4.21.49? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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