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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.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 4 · Chapter 23: Mahārāja Pṛthu’s Going Back Home
4.23.184.23.20

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.23.19

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

अर्चिर्नाम महाराज्ञी तत्पत्‍न्यनुगता वनम् ।

सुकुमार्यतदर्हा च यत्पद्‌भ्यां स्पर्शनं भुव: ॥ १९ ॥

arcir nāma mahā-rājñī

tat-patny anugatā vanam

sukumāry atad-arhā ca

yat-padbhyāṁ sparśanaṁ bhuvaḥ

Translation

The Queen, the wife of Pṛthu Mahārāja, whose name was Arci, followed her husband into the forest. Since she was a queen, her body was very delicate. Although she did not deserve to live in the forest, she voluntarily touched her lotus feet to the ground.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Arci’s Voluntary Dedication Amid Hardship

  1. 1

    Queen Arci followed Pṛthu Mahārāja into the forest voluntarily. Her body was very delicate, and she was not accustomed to the hardships of forest life.

  2. 2

    Although accustomed to palace comforts, she accepted the difficulties of accompanying her husband. Her dedication remained steady when their circumstances changed.

  3. 3

    The purport presents such queens as examples of chastity and dedication to their husbands. They taught by their actions, sharing both royal life and the hardships of renunciation.

Key points from the purport
  • The goddess of fortune mother Sītā followed her husband, Rāmacandra, when He went to the forest.
  • Similarly, Gāndhārī, the wife of King Dhṛtarāṣṭra, also followed her husband into the forest.
  • Therefore it is said here (atad-arhā) that although she did not want to touch her feet to the ground, she nonetheless accepted all difficulties when she went to the forest with her husband.

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 23: Mahārāja Pṛthu’s Going Back Home

Pṛthu practices forest austerities and fixed devotion to Kṛṣṇa, then departs; Arci’s faithful service is praised.

Back to this verse in chapter 4.23
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. arciḥ nāmaof the name Arci
  2. mahā-rājñīthe Queen
  3. tat-patnīthe wife of Mahārāja Pṛthu
  4. anugatāwho followed her husband
  5. vanamin the forest
  6. su-kumārīvery delicate body
  7. a-tat-arhāwho did not deserve
  8. caalso
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

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 can Arci’s willingness to set aside comfort teach me about dedication?

Practice

Accept one small inconvenience today to support a family member, reflecting on Arci’s voluntary dedication.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

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 4.23's connections

Live this todayArci’s Voluntary Dedication Amid HardshipThis 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 4.23.19? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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