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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 23: Mahārāja Pṛthu’s Going Back Home
4.23.194.23.21

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.23.20

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

अतीव भर्तुर्व्रतधर्मनिष्ठया

शुश्रूषया चार्षदेहयात्रया ।

नाविन्दतार्तिं परिकर्शितापि सा

प्रेयस्करस्पर्शनमाननिर्वृति: ॥ २० ॥

atīva bhartur vrata-dharma-niṣṭhayā

śuśrūṣayā cārṣa-deha-yātrayā

nāvindatārtiṁ parikarśitāpi sā

preyaskara-sparśana-māna-nirvṛtiḥ

Translation

Although she was not accustomed to such difficulties, Queen Arci followed her husband in the regulative principles of living in the forest like great sages. She lay down on the ground and ate only fruits, flowers and leaves, and because she was not fit for these activities, she became frail and thin. Yet because of the pleasure she derived in serving her husband, she did not feel any difficulties.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Finding Joy in Steady Service

  1. 1

    Queen Arci followed her husband’s forest vows with determination. Although the austere life made her frail and thin, she found pleasure in serving him.

  2. 2

    The purport describes husband and wife as trained for a life dedicated to a higher purpose. Their responsibilities were meant to support that purpose through different stages of life.

  3. 3

    Spiritual life calls for reducing bodily comforts. Arci’s happiness came from service rather than comfortable living.

Key points from the purport
  • At that time the wife is to follow her husband and take care of him, just as she took care of him in householder life.
  • Pṛthu Mahārāja’s wife, Arci, was steadily determined to execute the duty of a wife, and while her husband was in the forest, she followed him in eating only fruits and leaves and lying down on the ground.
  • Although Queen Arci became very thin from living in the forest according to regulative principles, she was not unhappy, for she was enjoying the honor of serving her great 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. atīvavery much
  2. bhartuḥof the husband
  3. vrata-dharmavow to serve him
  4. niṣṭhayāby determination
  5. śuśrūṣayāby serving
  6. caalso
  7. ārṣalike the great saintly sages
  8. dehabody
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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

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 4.23

    In this verse: “principles”

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

When has sincere service brought you more satisfaction than personal comfort?

Practice

Set aside one small convenience today to make time for a helpful act of service.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayFinding Joy in Steady 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.

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