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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 30: The Activities of the Pracetās
4.30.134.30.15

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.30.14

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Lordsince 4.30.9inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

क्षुत्क्षामाया मुखे राजा सोम: पीयूषवर्षिणीम् ।

देशिनीं रोदमानाया निदधे स दयान्वित: ॥ १४ ॥

kṣut-kṣāmāyā mukhe rājā

somaḥ pīyūṣa-varṣiṇīm

deśinīṁ rodamānāyā

nidadhe sa dayānvitaḥ

Translation

Thereafter the child, who was left to the care of the trees, began to cry in hunger. At that time the king of the forest, namely the king of the moon planet, out of compassion placed his finger, which poured forth nectar, within the child’s mouth. Thus the child was raised by the mercy of the king of the moon.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Compassion Responds to Another’s Need

  1. 1

    The child left in the care of the trees began to cry from hunger.

  2. 2

    The trees could not care for her properly, so they handed her over to Candra, the king of the moon.

  3. 3

    Out of compassion, Candra placed his nectar-pouring finger in the child’s mouth to satisfy her hunger. She was thus raised by his mercy.

Key points from the purport
  • Although the Apsarā left her child to the care of the trees, the trees could not take care of the child properly; therefore the trees handed the child over to the king of the moon.
  • Thus Candra, king of the moon, put his finger within the mouth of the child to satisfy her hunger.

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

Search → Devotional resolution. Prayer and instruction redirect household and societal life.

Chapters 30–31 of Canto 4: Pracetās and Nārada's concluding guidance. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 30: The Activities of the Pracetās

The Lord appears to the Pracetās, who pray only for His satisfaction; Brahmā later pacifies them.

Back to this verse in chapter 4.30
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. kṣutby hunger
  2. kṣāmāyāḥwhen she was distressed
  3. mukhewithin the mouth
  4. rājāthe king
  5. somaḥthe moon
  6. pīyūṣanectar
  7. varṣiṇīmpouring
  8. deśinīmforefinger
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 4.30

    In this verse: “compassion”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.30

    In this verse: “king”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 4.30

    In this verse: “mercy”

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

Whose immediate need could I respond to with practical compassion?

Practice

Help meet one person’s need for food today, or ask someone capable to help if you cannot.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayCompassion Responds to Another’s NeedThis 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 4.30.14? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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