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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.
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Canto 4 · Chapter 30: The Activities of the Pracetās
4.30.434.30.45

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.30.44

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 4.30.43inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura
A turning point forThe Pracetās· The fruits of austerity

अथ निर्याय सलिलात्प्रचेतस उदन्वत: ।

वीक्ष्याकुप्यन्द्रुमैश्छन्नां गां गां रोद्धुमिवोच्छ्रितै: ॥ ४४ ॥

atha niryāya salilāt

pracetasa udanvataḥ

vīkṣyākupyan drumaiś channāṁ

gāṁ gāṁ roddhum ivocchritaiḥ

Translation

Thereafter all the Pracetās emerged from the waters of the sea. They then saw that all the trees on land had grown very tall, as if to obstruct the path to the heavenly planets. These trees had covered the entire surface of the world. At this time the Pracetās became very angry.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Responsible Care Includes Producing Food

  1. 1

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead directed the Pracetās to care for their father’s kingdom. On emerging from the water, they found that agriculture had been neglected and tall trees covered the land.

  2. 2

    The purport presents producing food grains, caring for cows and properly using available land as the basis of economic well-being. The Pracetās wanted land cleared for crops.

  3. 3

    The purport teaches that living beings depend on food grains, grains depend on rain, and rain follows the performance of yajña, or sacrifice. Prescribed duties thus support the provision of food.

Key points from the purport
  • Indeed, the surface of the world was practically covered by very tall trees.
  • The Pracetās became very angry when they saw the surface of the globe covered in this way.
  • Human beings can inhabit any place on the surface of the earth by clearing jungles and converting land for agricultural purposes.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 4.30.44 quotesBG 3.14

As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (3.14): “All living bodies subsist on food grains, which are produced from rains.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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. athathereafter
  2. niryāyaafter coming out
  3. salilātfrom the water
  4. pracetasaḥall the Pracetās
  5. udanvataḥof the sea
  6. vīkṣyahaving observed
  7. akupyanbecame very angry
  8. drumaiḥby trees
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 4.30

    In this verse: “duties”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.30

    In this verse: “kingdom”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 4.30

    In this verse: “father’s”

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 much attention do I give to the work and care that provide food?

Practice

At one meal today, pause to reflect on the verse’s connection between prescribed duties, sacrifice, rain and food.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayResponsible Care Includes Producing FoodThis 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 4.30.44? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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