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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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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
4.23.314.23.33

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.23.32

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
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

ब्राह्मणो ब्रह्मवर्चस्वी राजन्यो जगतीपति: ।

वैश्य: पठन् विट्पति: स्याच्छूद्र: सत्तमतामियात् ॥ ३२ ॥

brāhmaṇo brahma-varcasvī

rājanyo jagatī-patiḥ

vaiśyaḥ paṭhan viṭ-patiḥ syāc

chūdraḥ sattamatām iyāt

Translation

If one hears of the characteristics of Pṛthu Mahārāja and is a brāhmaṇa, he becomes perfectly qualified with brahminical powers; if he is a kṣatriya, he becomes a king of the world; if he is a vaiśya, he becomes a master of other vaiśyas and many animals; and if he is a śūdra, he becomes the topmost devotee.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotion Brings Perfection Beyond Birth

  1. 1

    Everyone is advised to worship the Supreme Lord, whether without desires, seeking material benefits or desiring liberation. Devotional service can bring perfection in every condition of life.

  2. 2

    Birth in a particular family is not enough; one must develop the corresponding qualifications. Hearing and chanting are powerful enough to bring a person to perfection.

  3. 3

    Even someone born in a śūdra family can become greater than a brāhmaṇa through devotional service. The essential practice is hearing about the Lord and His devotees.

Key points from the purport
  • In this verse brāhmaṇas, kṣatriyas, vaiśyas and śūdras are mentioned, but here it should be understood that that reference is to the brāhmaṇa who is born in a brahminical family, the kṣatriya who is born in a kṣatriya family, the vaiśya who is born in a vaiśya family, and the śūdra who is born in a śūdra family.
  • But whether one is a brāhmaṇa, kṣatriya, vaiśya or śūdra, he can attain perfection simply by hearing and chanting.
  • Similarly, taking birth as a vaiśya is not all; one must possess hundreds or thousands of animals (specifically cows) and rule over other vaiśyas as Nanda Mahārāja did in Vṛndāvana.

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. brāhmaṇaḥthe brāhmaṇas
  2. brahma-varcasvīone who has attained the power of spiritual success
  3. rājanyaḥthe royal order
  4. jagatī-patiḥthe king of the world
  5. vaiśyaḥthe mercantile class of men
  6. paṭhanby reading
  7. viṭ-patiḥbecomes master of animals
  8. syātbecomes
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotee”, “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

Am I relying on my background, or developing spiritual qualities through hearing and chanting?

Practice

Spend five attentive minutes hearing or reading about Pṛthu today, whatever your present circumstances.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotion Brings Perfection Beyond BirthThis 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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