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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

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.

Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›

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

4.22.61 4.22.63

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.22.62

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

बृहस्पतिर्ब्रह्मवादे आत्मवत्त्वे स्वयं हरि: ।

भक्त्या गोगुरुविप्रेषु विष्वक्सेनानुवर्तिषु ।

ह्रिया प्रश्रयशीलाभ्यामात्मतुल्य: परोद्यमे ॥ ६२ ॥

bṛhaspatir brahma-vāde

ātmavattve svayaṁ hariḥ

bhaktyā go-guru-vipreṣu

viṣvaksenānuvartiṣu

hriyā praśraya-śīlābhyām

ātma-tulyaḥ parodyame

Translation

In his personal behavior, Pṛthu Mahārāja exhibited all good qualities, and in spiritual knowledge he was exactly like Bṛhaspati. In self-control he was like the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself. As far as his devotional service was concerned, he was a great follower of devotees who were attached to cow protection and the rendering of all service to the spiritual master and the brāhmaṇas. He was perfect in his shyness and in his gentle behavior, and when he engaged in some philanthropic activity, he worked as if he were working for his own personal self.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Knowledge and Character in Devotional Service

1
A devotee should be fixed in loving service and grounded in scriptural knowledge. Pṛthu Mahārāja could use logic and philosophy to refute the claim that the Absolute Truth is impersonal.
2
Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the ideal self-controller. Pṛthu Mahārāja showed that a householder can also be self-controlled by acting in devotional service.
3
He followed devoted servants of the Lord and was devoted to cow protection, spiritual masters and qualified brāhmaṇas. Humble and gentle, he performed welfare work with personal commitment, not for show.

Key points from the purport

It appears from this statement that Mahārāja Pṛthu, although a great devotee constantly engaged in the loving service of the Lord, could defeat all kinds of impersonalists and Māyāvādīs by his profound knowledge of Vedic scriptures.
Thus Pṛthu Mahārāja was an ideal brahmacārī and gṛhastha simultaneously.
Pṛthu Mahārāja was also very humble, meek and gentle, and whenever he performed any philanthropic work or welfare activity for the general public, he would labor exactly as if he were tending to his own personal necessities.

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

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

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

bṛhaspatiḥthe priest of the heavenly planets
brahma-vādein the matter of spiritual understanding
ātma-vattvein the matter of self-control
svayampersonally
hariḥthe Supreme Personality of Godhead
bhaktyāin devotion
gocow
guruspiritual master

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
Bhakti · Devotion and loving service
How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 4.22
In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotees”, “devotee”
Jñāna · Spiritual insight
Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 4.22
In this verse: “knowledge”, “philosophy”, “absolute truth”
Moha · Material attachment
The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 4.22
In this verse: “attached”, “householder”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do I care for others with the same sincerity that I bring to my own needs?

Practice

Do one helpful task for someone today with the care you would give your own needs, without seeking recognition.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 4.22's connections

Live this todayKnowledge and Character in Devotional ServiceThis 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 4.22.62? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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