1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 4 · The Creation of the Fourth Order · 31 chapters

12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
4.21.84.21.10

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.21.9

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Vidurasince 4.21.9inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

विदुर उवाच

सोऽभिषिक्त: पृथुर्विप्रैर्लब्धाशेषसुरार्हण: ।

बिभ्रत् स वैष्णवं तेजो बाह्वोर्याभ्यां दुदोह गाम् ॥ ९ ॥

vidura uvāca

so ’bhiṣiktaḥ pṛthur viprair

labdhāśeṣa-surārhaṇaḥ

bibhrat sa vaiṣṇavaṁ tejo

bāhvor yābhyāṁ dudoha gām

Translation

Vidura said: My dear brāhmaṇa Maitreya, it is very enlightening to understand that King Pṛthu was enthroned by the great sages and brāhmaṇas. All the demigods presented him with innumerable gifts, and he also expanded his influence upon personally receiving strength from Lord Viṣṇu. Thus he greatly developed the earth.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Good Leadership Supports Devotional Service

  1. 1

    Pṛthu Mahārāja was an empowered incarnation of Lord Viṣṇu and a great Vaiṣṇava devotee. The demigods, sages and saintly persons supported his coronation and rule.

  2. 2

    Receiving strength from Lord Viṣṇu, he developed the earth and used its resources for the satisfaction of the people.

  3. 3

    The purport asks every chief executive, whether king or president, to follow his example. Such government makes people happy and helps them execute devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Key points from the purport
  • Because Pṛthu Mahārāja was an empowered incarnation of Lord Viṣṇu and was naturally a great Vaiṣṇava devotee of the Lord, all the demigods were pleased with him and presented different gifts to help him in exercising his royal power, and the great sages and saintly persons also joined in his coronation.
  • Thus blessed by them, he ruled over the earth and exploited its resources for the greatest satisfaction of the people in general.
  • Regardless of whether the chief executive is a king or president, or whether the government is monarchical or democratic, this process is so perfect that if it is followed, everyone will become happy, and thus it will be very easy for all to execute devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

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. viduraḥ uvācaVidura said
  2. saḥhe (King Pṛthu)
  3. abhiṣiktaḥwhen enthroned
  4. pṛthuḥKing Pṛthu
  5. vipraiḥby the great sages and brāhmaṇas
  6. labdhaachieved
  7. aśeṣainnumerable
  8. sura-arhaṇaḥpresentations by the demigods
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.21

    In this verse: “king”, “government”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 4.21

    In this verse: “understand”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Does the way I use my resources help others and support devotional service?

Practice

Use one resource under your care today to meet someone’s practical need, remembering the goal of supporting devotional service.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayGood Leadership Supports Devotional ServiceThis 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 4.21.9? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories