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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
4.23.304.23.32

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.23.31

Nirodha· Winding up
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 4.23.30inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

य इदं सुमहत्पुण्यं श्रद्धयावहित: पठेत् ।

श्रावयेच्छृणुयाद्वापि स पृथो: पदवीमियात् ॥ ३१ ॥

ya idaṁ sumahat puṇyaṁ

śraddhayāvahitaḥ paṭhet

śrāvayec chṛṇuyād vāpi

sa pṛthoḥ padavīm iyāt

Translation

Any person who describes the great characteristics of King Pṛthu with faith and determination — whether he reads or hears of them himself or helps others to hear of them — is certain to attain the very planet which Mahārāja Pṛthu attained. In other words, such a person also returns home to the Vaikuṇṭha planets, back to Godhead.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Hear About the Lord’s Devotees

  1. 1

    Devotional service begins with hearing and chanting about Viṣṇu. This includes hearing and chanting about His devotees and everything related to Him.

  2. 2

    Anyone who reads, hears or helps others hear about Pṛthu with faith and attention can attain the same Vaikuṇṭha destination. Hearing about a Vaiṣṇava is as good as hearing about Viṣṇu.

  3. 3

    The spiritual master is honored as much as the Supreme Lord because he is the Lord’s most confidential servant. Service to the Lord’s devotees is not separate from devotional service to the Lord.

Key points from the purport
  • The fact is explained herein that hearing and chanting about a Vaiṣṇava is as good as hearing and chanting about Viṣṇu, for Maitreya has explained that anyone who hears about Pṛthu Mahārāja with attention also attains the planet which Mahārāja Pṛthu attained.
  • The point is that since Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu chanted the names of the gopīs, worship of the gopīs or the devotees of the Lord is as good as devotional service rendered directly to the Lord.
  • It is also stated by the Lord Himself that devotional service to His devotees is better than service offered directly to Him.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yaḥanyone
  2. idamthis
  3. su-mahatvery great
  4. puṇyampious
  5. śraddhayāwith great faith
  6. avahitaḥwith great attention
  7. paṭhetreads
  8. śrāvayetexplains
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Nirodha · Returning home, back to Godhead

    What happens when everything here comes to an end? · Subject 8 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 4.23

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotees”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.23

    In this verse: “king”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 4.23

    In this verse: “chanting”, “hearing”

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 give attentive hearing to the lives and qualities of the Lord’s devotees?

Practice

Read a short passage about Pṛthu aloud today, with faith and attention.

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 todayHear About the Lord’s DevoteesThis 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 4.23.31? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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