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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
4.21.64.21.8

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.21.7

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 4.21.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

स एवमादीन्यनवद्यचेष्टित:

कर्माणि भूयांसि महान्महत्तम: ।

कुर्वन् शशासावनिमण्डलं यश:

स्फीतं निधायारुरुहे परं पदम् ॥ ७ ॥

sa evam ādīny anavadya-ceṣṭitaḥ

karmāṇi bhūyāṁsi mahān mahattamaḥ

kurvan śaśāsāvani-maṇḍalaṁ yaśaḥ

sphītaṁ nidhāyāruruhe paraṁ padam

Translation

King Pṛthu was greater than the greatest soul and was therefore worshipable by everyone. He performed many glorious activities in ruling over the surface of the world and was always magnanimous. After achieving such great success and a reputation which spread throughout the universe, he at last obtained the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotional Service Leads to the Supreme Lord

  1. 1

    A ruler’s duties include performing prescribed sacrifices, supporting the duties of varṇa and āśrama, and developing the earth for food-grain production.

  2. 2

    King Pṛthu perfectly discharged his duties as a kṣatriya and was greater than the greatest. Despite his widespread fame, his ultimate attainment was the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  3. 3

    The Vaikuṇṭha planets can be achieved only by devotional service. Without attachment to the Personality of Godhead, those who reach the impersonal Brahman region fall back into the material world.

Key points from the purport
  • The impersonal Brahman region is also called paraṁ padam, but unless one is attached to the Personality of Godhead one must again fall down to the material world from the impersonal paraṁ padam situation.
  • It is said, therefore, āruhya kṛcchreṇa paraṁ padaṁ tataḥ: the impersonalists endeavor very strenuously to achieve the paraṁ padam, or impersonal brahmajyoti, but unfortunately, being bereft of a relationship with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, they come down again to the material world.
  • Similarly, because the impersonalists who reach the paraṁ padam of the impersonal brahmajyoti do not enter into the Vaikuṇṭha planets, they come down again to this material world and are given shelter in one of the material planets.

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. saḥKing Pṛthu
  2. evamthus
  3. ādīnifrom the very beginning
  4. anavadyamagnanimous
  5. ceṣṭitaḥperforming various works
  6. karmāṇiwork
  7. bhūyāṁsirepeatedly
  8. mahāngreat
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

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

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

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

    In this verse: “duties”, “varṇa”, “āśrama”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.21

    In this verse: “king”, “ruler’s”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I treating success in my duties as the goal, or cultivating attachment to the Supreme Personality of Godhead?

Practice

Before one daily duty, take a moment to remember that devotional service—not reputation—is your goal.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotional Service Leads to 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.

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