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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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Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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 24: Chanting the Song Sung by Lord Śiva
4.24.124.24.14

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.24.13

Visarga· Brahmā's creation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 4.24.9inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

प्राचीनबर्हिष: पुत्रा: शतद्रुत्यां दशाभवन् ।

तुल्यनामव्रता: सर्वे धर्मस्‍नाता: प्रचेतस: ॥ १३ ॥

prācīnabarhiṣaḥ putrāḥ

śatadrutyāṁ daśābhavan

tulya-nāma-vratāḥ sarve

dharma-snātāḥ pracetasaḥ

Translation

King Prācīnabarhi begot ten children in the womb of Śatadruti. All of them were equally endowed with religiosity, and all of them were known as the Pracetās.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Religious Life Includes Devotion and Good Conduct

  1. 1

    Prācīnabarhi and Śatadruti had ten sons, all known as the Pracetās. They were equally endowed with religiosity.

  2. 2

    The word dharma-snātāḥ indicates that they were fully immersed in religious practice. They also possessed all good qualities.

  3. 3

    Perfection includes faithfully carrying out vows of devotional service, knowledge and good behavior. All the Pracetās stood on the same level of perfection.

Key points from the purport
  • The word dharma-snātāḥ is significant, for the ten children were all merged in the practice of religion.
  • One is supposed to be perfect when one is perfectly religious, perfect in the execution of one’s vows to render devotional service, perfect in knowledge, perfect in good behavior, and so on.
  • All the Pracetās were on the same level of perfection.

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

Worldly absorption → Sobering awareness. The mind's identification with material life becomes visible.

Chapters 24–29 of Canto 4: Śiva's song and the allegory of Purañjana. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 24: Chanting the Song Sung by Lord Śiva

Lord Śiva mercifully teaches the Pracetās prayers glorifying the Supreme Lord.

Back to this verse in chapter 4.24
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. prācīnabarhiṣaḥof King Prācīnabarhi
  2. putrāḥsons
  3. śatadrutyāmin the womb of Śatadruti
  4. daśaten
  5. abhavanbecame manifest
  6. tulyaequally
  7. nāmaname
  8. vratāḥvow
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Visarga · Subcreation

    How do living beings and their worlds appear? · Subject 2 of 10

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 4.24

    In this verse: “religiosity”, “dharma-snātāḥ”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.24

    In this verse: “king”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 4.24

    In this verse: “children”

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

How can my behavior better reflect my commitment to devotional service?

Practice

Choose one small commitment in devotional service and fulfill it carefully today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayReligious Life Includes Devotion and Good ConductThis 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 4.24.13? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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