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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
4.22.124.22.14

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.22.13

Ūti· What drives us to act
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

कच्चिन्न: कुशलं नाथा इन्द्रियार्थार्थवेदिनाम् ।

व्यसनावाप एतस्मिन्पतितानां स्वकर्मभि: ॥ १३ ॥

kaccin naḥ kuśalaṁ nāthā

indriyārthārtha-vedinām

vyasanāvāpa etasmin

patitānāṁ sva-karmabhiḥ

Translation

Pṛthu Mahārāja inquired from the sages about persons entangled in this dangerous material existence because of their previous actions. Could such persons, whose only aim is sense gratification, be blessed with any good fortune?

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Auspicious Life Begins With Devotional Service

  1. 1

    Pṛthu Mahārāja asked whether those entangled in material existence could find an auspicious spiritual path. His question concerned people whose only aim is sense gratification.

  2. 2

    The material world is dangerous at every step for those pursuing sense gratification. One becomes fallen through one’s own past activities.

  3. 3

    Brāhmaṇas and Vaiṣṇavas who strictly follow spiritual advancement are always fortunate. When activities are changed to devotional service, auspicious life begins.

Key points from the purport
  • Mahārāja Pṛthu did not ask the Kumāras about their good fortune, for the Kumāras are always auspicious by dint of their life in celibacy.
  • Clearing all these points, Mahārāja Pṛthu inquired from the four Kumāras about the fallen conditioned souls who are rotting in this material world due to their past bad or inauspicious activities: “Is there any possibility for their auspicious spiritual life?”
  • Only one who stops all activities for sense gratification is considered to be elevated.

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 4.22.13 quotesSB 10.14.58

This material world is said to be padaṁ padaṁ yad vipadāṁ na teṣām, dangerous in every step.

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 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. kaccitwhether
  2. naḥour
  3. kuśalamgood fortune
  4. nāthāḥO masters
  5. indriya-arthasense gratification as the ultimate goal of life
  6. artha-vedināmpersons who understand only sense gratification
  7. vyasanaillness
  8. āvāpegot
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “sense gratification”, “material”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 4.22

    In this verse: “dangerous”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 4.22

    In this verse: “blessed”

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

Which activity could I turn from sense gratification toward devotional service?

Practice

Set aside one small pleasure-seeking activity today and use that time for devotional service.

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.

The purport quotesSB 10.14.58

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 4.22's connections

Live this todayAuspicious Life Begins With 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.

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