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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
4.22.564.22.58

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.22.57

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
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

दुर्धर्षस्तेजसेवाग्निर्महेन्द्र इव दुर्जय: ।

तितिक्षया धरित्रीव द्यौरिवाभीष्टदो नृणाम् ॥ ५७ ॥

durdharṣas tejasevāgnir

mahendra iva durjayaḥ

titikṣayā dharitrīva

dyaur ivābhīṣṭa-do nṛṇām

Translation

Mahārāja Pṛthu was so strong and powerful that no one could disobey his orders, any more than one could conquer fire itself. He was so strong that he was compared to Indra, the King of heaven, whose power is insuperable. On the other hand, Mahārāja Pṛthu was also as tolerant as the earth, and in fulfilling various desires of human society, he was like heaven itself.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Strong in Protection, Generous in Mercy

  1. 1

    A king must protect the citizens and fulfill their desires, while citizens must obey the laws of the state. Pṛthu Mahārāja maintained these standards of good government.

  2. 2

    His power was compared to fire and to Indra, yet his tolerance was compared to the earth.

  3. 3

    He distributed mercy incessantly, like rainfall that enables food grains to grow. He was softer than a rose flower and harder than a thunderbolt.

Key points from the purport
  • Mahārāja Pṛthu maintained all the standards of good government, and he was so invincible that no one could disobey his orders any more than a person could stop heat and light emanating from a fire.
  • He was so strong and powerful that he was compared to the King of heaven, Indra.
  • On the other hand, Mahārāja Pṛthu was as tolerant as the earth itself, and he fulfilled all the desires of his citizens just like torrents of rain from the sky.

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 4.22.57 quotesBG 3.14

As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (3.14), parjanyād anna-sambhavaḥ: food grains are produced only because rain falls from the sky, and without grains, no one on the earth can be satisfied.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. durdharṣaḥunconquerable
  2. tejasāby prowess
  3. ivalike
  4. agniḥfire
  5. mahā-indraḥthe King of heaven
  6. ivalikened
  7. durjayaḥinsuperable
  8. titikṣayāby tolerance
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”, “government”, “citizens”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 4.22

    In this verse: “mercy”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 4.22

    In this verse: “protect”

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

Where do I need to combine strength with greater tolerance and mercy?

Practice

Respond patiently to one inconvenience today and offer practical help to someone affected by it.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayStrong in Protection, Generous in MercyThis 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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