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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
4.22.534.22.55

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.22.54

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

विजिताश्वं धूम्रकेशं हर्यक्षं द्रविणं

वृकम् ।

सर्वेषां लोकपालानां दधारैक: पृथुर्गुणान् ॥ ५४ ॥

vijitāśvaṁ dhūmrakeśaṁ

haryakṣaṁ draviṇaṁ vṛkam

sarveṣāṁ loka-pālānāṁ

dadhāraikaḥ pṛthur guṇān

Translation

After begetting five sons, named Vijitāśva, Dhūmrakeśa, Haryakṣa, Draviṇa and Vṛka, Pṛthu Mahārāja continued to rule the planet. He accepted all the qualities of the deities who governed all other planets.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Pṛthu’s Extraordinary Qualities as a Ruler

  1. 1

    After begetting five sons, Pṛthu Mahārāja continued to rule the planet. He displayed all the qualities of the deities governing other planets.

  2. 2

    The purport explains that each planet has a predominating deity. It names Vivasvān as the predominating deity of the sun.

  3. 3

    The earth’s two royal dynasties, Sūrya-vaṁśa and Candra-vaṁśa, descend from the predominating deities of the sun and moon. Pṛthu Mahārāja was exceptional in possessing the qualities of all the planetary rulers.

Key points from the purport
  • Similarly, there is a predominating deity of the moon and of the various planets.
  • Actually the predominating deities in all the other planets are descendants from the predominating deities of the sun and moon.
  • On this planet earth there are two kṣatriya dynasties, one coming from the predominating deity of the sun and the other from the predominating deity of the moon.

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. vijitāśvamof the name Vijitāśva
  2. dhūmrakeśamof the name Dhūmrakeśa
  3. haryakṣamof the name Haryakṣa
  4. draviṇamof the name Draviṇa
  5. vṛkamof the name Vṛka
  6. sarveṣāmof all
  7. loka-pālānāmthe governing heads of all planets
  8. dadhāraaccepted
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.22

    In this verse: “governed”, “rulers”, “governing”

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

What does Pṛthu Mahārāja’s example encourage me to consider about the qualities needed to carry responsibility?

Practice

Identify one responsibility you hold and one quality you need to develop to carry it out well.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPṛthu’s Extraordinary Qualities as a RulerThis 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 4.22.54? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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