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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.
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Canto 4 · Chapter 22: Pṛthu Mahārāja’s Meeting with the Four Kumāras
4.22.434.22.45

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.22.44

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Kingsince 4.22.44inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

प्राणा दारा: सुता ब्रह्मन् गृहाश्च सपरिच्छदा: ।

राज्यं बलं मही कोश इति सर्वं निवेदितम् ॥ ४४ ॥

prāṇā dārāḥ sutā brahman

gṛhāś ca sa-paricchadāḥ

rājyaṁ balaṁ mahī kośa

iti sarvaṁ niveditam

Translation

The King continued: Therefore, my dear brāhmaṇas, my life, wife, children, home, furniture and household paraphernalia, my kingdom, strength, land and especially my treasury are all offered unto you.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Offer Everything with a Servant’s Heart

  1. 1

    Pṛthu Mahārāja offered his life, strength, kingdom and possessions to the Kumāras. His offering included even the private jewelry kept separately from the state treasury.

  2. 2

    The purport favors the reading rāyaḥ, meaning wealth, rather than dārāḥ, meaning wife. It explicitly explains that a wife is not to be offered in charity.

  3. 3

    The King’s property already belonged to the brāhmaṇas, and he used it for the welfare of the state. His offering was like a servant preparing and offering food that already belongs to the master.

Key points from the purport
  • The dārāḥ, or wife, is not permitted to be offered to the brāhmaṇas.
  • Everything is offered to worthy persons who are able to accept charity, but nowhere is it found that one offers his wife; therefore in this case the reading rāyaḥ is more accurate than dārāḥ.
  • In this way, everything belonging to Pṛthu Mahārāja was offered to the Kumāras.

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. prāṇāḥlife
  2. dārāḥwife
  3. sutāḥchildren
  4. brahmanO great brāhmaṇa
  5. gṛhāḥhome
  6. caalso
  7. sawith
  8. paricchadāḥall paraphernalia
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”, “kingdom”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “household”, “wealth”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 4.22

    In this verse: “children”

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

How can I use what is entrusted to me with a servant’s care rather than a proprietor’s pride?

Practice

Use one possession today to perform a small service, remembering the example of the servant preparing food for the master.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayOffer Everything with a Servant’s HeartThis 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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