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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
4.21.514.22.1

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.21.52

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The citizenssince 4.21.51inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

नमो विवृद्धसत्त्वाय पुरुषाय महीयसे ।

यो ब्रह्म क्षत्रमाविश्य बिभर्तीदं स्वतेजसा ॥ ५२ ॥

namo vivṛddha-sattvāya

puruṣāya mahīyase

yo brahma kṣatram āviśya

bibhartīdaṁ sva-tejasā

Translation

Dear lord, you are situated in your pure existential position of goodness; therefore you are the perfect representative of the Supreme Lord. You are glorified by your own prowess, and thus you are maintaining the entire world by introducing brahminical culture and protecting everyone in your line of duty as a kṣatriya.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Pure Devotion Enables Instruction and Protection

  1. 1

    Proper social standards require brahminical culture and protection from the government. Mahārāja Pṛthu, situated in pure goodness, gave proper instruction as a brāhmaṇa and protection as a kṣatriya.

  2. 2

    Devotional service raises one from ignorance to goodness through association with devotees and regular hearing of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam. Through hearing and chanting, Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead within everyone’s heart, helps cleanse the devotee’s heart.

  3. 3

    Freedom from lust and greed, together with satisfaction in any condition of life, indicates goodness. Beyond material goodness is pure goodness, or vivṛddha-sattva, in which one becomes Kṛṣṇa conscious; devotional service remains the goal.

Key points from the purport
  • This is admitted in this verse by the citizens of Mahārāja Pṛthu, who could maintain the wonderful situation of his government due to his position in pure goodness.
  • Therefore Mahārāja Pṛthu is addressed here as vivṛddha-sattva, or one who is situated in the transcendental position.
  • But Mahārāja Pṛthu, although situated in the transcendental position of a pure devotee, came down to the position of brāhmaṇa and kṣatriya for the benefit of human society and thus gave protection to the entire world by his personal prowess.

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· 1

The purport of SB 4.21.52 quotesSB 1.2.17

“When one engages in devotional service in the first stages of hearing and chanting, the Lord, who is in everyone’s heart, helps the devotee in cleansing his heart.”

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. namaḥall obeisances
  2. vivṛddhahighly elevated
  3. sattvāyaunto the existence
  4. puruṣāyaunto the person
  5. mahīyaseunto one who is so glorified
  6. yaḥwho
  7. brahmabrahminical culture
  8. kṣatramadministrative duty
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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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

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

    In this verse: “glorified”, “chanting”, “hearing”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

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

    In this verse: “protecting”, “protection”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotees”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I make regular hearing with devotees part of my life to help cleanse my heart of lust and greed?

Practice

Today, spend five minutes listening to a devotee read Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, with a desire to grow in devotional service.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPure Devotion Enables Instruction and ProtectionThis 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.

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