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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
4.23.354.23.37

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.23.36

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

विजयाभिमुखो राजा श्रुत्वैतदभियाति यान् ।

बलिं तस्मै हरन्त्यग्रे राजान: पृथवे यथा ॥ ३६ ॥

vijayābhimukho rājā

śrutvaitad abhiyāti yān

baliṁ tasmai haranty agre

rājānaḥ pṛthave yathā

Translation

If a king, who is desirous of attaining victory and ruling power, chants the narration of Pṛthu Mahārāja three times before going forth on his chariot, all subordinate kings will automatically render all kinds of taxes unto him — as they rendered them unto Mahārāja Pṛthu — simply upon his order.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Chanting Pṛthu Mahārāja’s History Supports Kings

  1. 1

    A kṣatriya king naturally desires to rule the world and make other kings subordinate to him. Pṛthu Mahārāja was the only emperor on this planet during his rule.

  2. 2

    Subordinate kings sometimes rebelled, making it necessary for the emperor to chastise them.

  3. 3

    A king seeking victory is instructed to chant Pṛthu Mahārāja’s narration three times before setting out on his chariot. The verse promises that subordinate kings will then offer taxes upon his order.

Key points from the purport
  • Since a kṣatriya king naturally desires to rule the world, he wishes to make all other kings subordinate to him.
  • Sometimes the subordinate kings rebelled, and it was necessary for the emperor to go and chastise them.
  • This process of chanting the narrations of the life and character of Pṛthu Mahārāja is recommended for conquering kings if they want to fulfill their desire to rule the world.

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. vijaya-abhimukhaḥone who is about to start for victory
  2. rājāking
  3. śrutvāhearing
  4. etatthis
  5. abhiyātistarts
  6. yānon the chariot
  7. balimtaxes
  8. tasmaiunto him
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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

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

    In this verse: “chants”, “narration”, “chant”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.23

    In this verse: “king”, “emperor”

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 does this instruction show you about the importance given to chanting Pṛthu Mahārāja’s history?

Practice

Read aloud this verse’s instruction about chanting Pṛthu Mahārāja’s narration, noting whom it addresses.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayChanting Pṛthu Mahārāja’s History Supports KingsThis 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 4.23.36? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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