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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
4.22.524.22.54

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.22.53

Visarga· Brahmā's creation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 4.22.48inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

एवमध्यात्मयोगेन कर्माण्यनुसमाचरन् ।

पुत्रानुत्पादयामास पञ्चार्चिष्यात्मसम्मतान् ॥ ५३ ॥

evam adhyātma-yogena

karmāṇy anusamācaran

putrān utpādayām āsa

pañcārciṣy ātma-sammatān

Translation

Being situated in the liberated position of devotional service, Pṛthu Mahārāja not only performed all fruitive activities but also begot five sons by his wife, Arci. Indeed, all his sons were begotten according to his own desire.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Purify Family Life Through Devotional Purpose

  1. 1

    Pṛthu Mahārāja remained situated in the liberated position of devotional service while fulfilling household duties. He and Arci had five sons according to their desire.

  2. 2

    The purport emphasizes saṁskāras, or purificatory methods, especially garbhādhāna-saṁskāra before conceiving a child. It teaches that the parents’ mental condition affects the child.

  3. 3

    Pṛthu Mahārāja did not beget children out of lust or attraction to sense gratification. He acted responsibly as a householder, preparing for the future administration of his kingdom.

Key points from the purport
  • As a householder, Pṛthu Mahārāja had five sons by his wife, Arci, and all these sons were begotten as he desired them.
  • It is therefore understood by the words ātma-sammatān that both Pṛthu Mahārāja and Arci underwent the garbhādhāna purificatory process before begetting children, and thus they begot all their sons according to their desires and purified mental states.
  • Pṛthu Mahārāja did not beget his children out of lust, nor was he attracted to his wife for sense gratificatory purposes.

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. evamthus
  2. adhyātma-yogenaby the means of bhakti-yoga
  3. karmāṇiactivities
  4. anualways
  5. samācaranexecuting
  6. putrānsons
  7. utpādayām āsabegotten
  8. pañcafive
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Visarga · Subcreation

    How do living beings and their worlds appear? · Subject 2 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “lust”, “sense gratification”, “household”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 4.22

    In this verse: “devotional service”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.22

    In this verse: “kingdom”, “administration”

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 approach family responsibilities with a more purified and devotional purpose?

Practice

Before one family responsibility today, pause and choose to carry it out as devotional duty rather than for personal gratification.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPurify Family Life Through Devotional PurposeThis 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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