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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
4.22.14.22.3

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.22.2

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 4.22.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

तांस्तु सिद्धेश्वरान् राजा व्योम्नोऽवतरतोऽर्चिषा ।

लोकानपापान् कुर्वाणान् सानुगोऽचष्ट लक्षितान् ॥ २ ॥

tāṁs tu siddheśvarān rājā

vyomno ’vatarato ’rciṣā

lokān apāpān kurvāṇān

sānugo ’caṣṭa lakṣitān

Translation

Seeing the glowing effulgence of the four Kumāras, the masters of all mystic power, the King and his associates could recognize them as they descended from the sky.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Kumāras Bring Purity

  1. 1

    The four Kumāras were masters of all mystic power. They had attained all the yogic perfections and could travel through space without machines.

  2. 2

    The King and his associates recognized them by their glowing effulgence as they descended from the sky.

  3. 3

    Their special power was that wherever they went became sinless. They decided to visit Mahārāja Pṛthu, during whose reign the earth was sinless.

Key points from the purport
  • The four Kumāras are described herein as siddheśvarān, which means “masters of all mystic power.”
  • In other words, these four Kumāras were also spacemen who could travel in space without machines.
  • During the reign of Mahārāja Pṛthu, everything on the surface of this globe was sinless, and therefore the Kumāras decided to see the King.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tānthem
  2. tubut
  3. siddha-īśvarānmasters of all mystic power
  4. rājāthe King
  5. vyomnaḥfrom the sky
  6. avatarataḥwhile descending
  7. arciṣāby their glaring effulgence
  8. lokānall the planets
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 4.22

    In this verse: “king”

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 appreciate the Kumāras’ purifying presence more than their extraordinary powers?

Practice

Reflect for one minute on the purifying influence of the Kumāras, rather than only their mystic abilities.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Kumāras Bring PurityThis 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 4.22.2? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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