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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 22: Pṛthu Mahārāja’s Meeting with the Four Kumāras
4.22.94.22.11

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.22.10

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:King Pṛthusince 4.22.9inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

अधना अपि ते धन्या: साधवो गृहमेधिन: ।

यद्गृहा ह्यर्हवर्याम्बुतृणभूमीश्वरावरा: ॥ १० ॥

adhanā api te dhanyāḥ

sādhavo gṛha-medhinaḥ

yad-gṛhā hy arha-varyāmbu-

tṛṇa-bhūmīśvarāvarāḥ

Translation

A person who is not very rich and is attached to family life becomes highly glorified when saintly persons are present in his home. The master and servants who are engaged in offering the exalted visitors water, a sitting place and paraphernalia for reception are glorified, and the home itself is also glorified.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devoted Hospitality Does Not Require Wealth

  1. 1

    A saintly visitor glorifies even a poor or materially attached householder’s home. Those who serve the visitor also receive blessings.

  2. 2

    Receiving saintly persons gives householders an opportunity to hear transcendental knowledge. A sannyāsī travels to help them understand the values of spiritual life.

  3. 3

    Hospitality does not depend on wealth. One can offer drinking water, a simple sitting place, or even a heartfelt welcome with folded hands.

Key points from the purport
  • When this happens, the owner of the house and his servants are glorified because they offer water for washing the feet of a saintly person, sitting places and other things to receive him.
  • It may be argued that all householders are not very rich and that one cannot receive great saintly persons or preachers because they are always accompanied by their disciples.
  • If a householder is to receive a saintly person, he has to receive his entourage also.

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 22: Pṛthu Mahārāja’s Meeting with the Four Kumāras

The four Kumāras instruct Pṛthu, who dedicates himself and the fruits of his activities to the Lord.

Back to this verse in chapter 4.22
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. adhanāḥnot very rich
  2. apialthough
  3. tethey
  4. dhanyāḥglorious
  5. sādhavaḥsaintly persons
  6. gṛha-medhinaḥpersons who are attached to family life
  7. yat-gṛhāḥwhose house
  8. hicertainly
3

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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 4.22

    In this verse: “attached”, “householder’s”, “wealth”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 4.22

    In this verse: “glorified”, “glorifies”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 4.22

    In this verse: “knowledge”, “understand”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do I let limited resources keep me from offering a sincere welcome?

Practice

Offer a guest a glass of water and a welcoming place to sit; if no guest comes, prepare to do so.

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 4.22's connections

Live this todayDevoted Hospitality Does Not Require WealthThis 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 4.22.10? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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