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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
4.22.584.22.60

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.22.59

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

धर्मराडिव शिक्षायामाश्चर्ये हिमवानिव ।

कुवेर इव कोशाढ्यो गुप्तार्थो वरुणो यथा ॥ ५९ ॥

dharma-rāḍ iva śikṣāyām

āścarye himavān iva

kuvera iva kośāḍhyo

guptārtho varuṇo yathā

Translation

Mahārāja Pṛthu’s intelligence and education were exactly like that of Yamarāja, the superintendent of death. His opulence was comparable to the Himālaya Mountains, where all valuable jewels and metals are stocked. He possessed great riches like Kuvera, the treasurer of the heavenly planets, and no one could reveal his secrets, for they were like the demigod Varuṇa’s.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Learning, Sound Judgment and Guarded Secrets

  1. 1

    Like Yamarāja, who is expert in judicial matters, Pṛthu Mahārāja was highly learned. He was exceedingly exact in judging the citizens.

  2. 2

    His opulence was compared to the Himālaya Mountains, with their vast stores of minerals and jewels. His riches were also compared to those of Kuvera.

  3. 3

    No one could discover the secrets of his life. In this respect he was compared to Varuṇa.

Key points from the purport
  • Yamarāja, or Dharmarāja, as the superintendent of death, has to judge the criminal living entities who have committed sinful activities throughout their lives.
  • No one could excel him in opulence any more than estimate the stock of minerals and jewels in the Himālaya Mountains; therefore he is compared to Kuvera, the treasurer of the heavenly planets.
  • Nor could anyone discover the secrets of his life any more than learn the secrets of Varuṇa, the demigod presiding over the water, the night, and the western 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.

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. dharma-rāṭ ivalike King Yamarāja (the superintendent of death)
  2. śikṣāyāmin education
  3. āścaryein opulence
  4. himavān ivalike the Himālaya Mountains
  5. kuveraḥthe treasurer of the heavenly planets
  6. ivalike
  7. kośa-āḍhyaḥin the matter of possessing wealth
  8. gupta-arthaḥsecrecy
  9. varuṇaḥthe demigod named Varuṇa
  10. yathālike
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

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 4.22

    In this verse: “death”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.22

    In this verse: “citizens”

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 take enough care to understand a matter before making a judgment?

Practice

Before judging one situation today, pause and check the facts you already know.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayLearning, Sound Judgment and Guarded SecretsThis 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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