Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 3

Pṛthu Mahārāja Meets the Four Kumāras: Bhakti as the Boat Across Saṁsāra

Devanagari script

तद्दर्शनोद्गतान् प्राणान् प्रत्यादित्सुरिवोत्थित: । ससदस्यानुगो वैन्य इन्द्रियेशो गुणानिव ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

tad-darśanodgatān prāṇān pratyāditsur ivotthitaḥ sa-sadasyānugo vainya indriyeśo guṇān iva

Translation

À leur vue, le souffle de Pṛthu Mahārāja sembla jaillir d’empressement; avec ses officiers et ses compagnons, il se leva en hâte pour les accueillir, comme l’âme conditionnée dont les sens sont aussitôt attirés par les guṇas de la nature.

Synonyms

• tat-darśana-udgatān: arisen from seeing them/that sight
• tat-darśana-udgatān: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tat (प्रातिपदिक) + darśana (प्रातिपदिक) + udgata (कृदन्त, ud-√gam)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; तत्पुरुष-समास: ‘arisen due to seeing that (sight)’; qualifying prāṇān

• prāṇān: vital breaths
• prāṇān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prāṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

• pratyāditṣuḥ: desiring to draw back (into himself)
• pratyāditṣuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: prati-ā-√dā (धातु)
• Form: Desiderative participle (सन्नन्त/इच्छार्थक, ‘to wish to take back’), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; ‘desiring to take back (into himself)’

• iva: as if
• iva: Upamāna-bhāva (उपमानभाव)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle of comparison

• utthitaḥ: risen/stood up
• utthitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ut-√sthā (धातु)
• Form: Past active participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• sa-sadasya-anugaḥ: with his courtiers/attendants
• sa-sadasya-anugaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (अव्यय) + sadasya (प्रातिपदिक) + anuga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; compound meaning ‘accompanied by (his) assembly-members/attendants’

• vainyaḥ: Vainya (Pṛthu)
• vainyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vainya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; epithet of Pṛthu (son of Vena)

• indriya-īśaḥ: lord of the senses
• indriya-īśaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: indriya (प्रातिपदिक) + īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; तत्पुरुष: indriyāṇām īśaḥ = ‘lord of the senses’

• guṇān: the qualities (guṇas)
• guṇān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

• iva: like
• iva: Upamāna-bhāva (उपमानभाव)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle of comparison

Purport

In Bhagavad-gītā (3.27) it is said:

Characters & Entities

• Pṛthu Mahārāja (Vainya)
• The Kumāras (Sanaka, Sanandana, Sanātana, Sanat-kumāra)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about how to receive great sages or devotees?

This verse shows that Pṛthu Mahārāja immediately rose from his seat and approached the Kumāras with deep reverence—teaching prompt respect, attentiveness, and humility in the presence of saintly persons.

Why did Pṛthu Mahārāja stand up as soon as he saw the Kumāras?

Their darśana overwhelmed him with devotion and awe, as if his life-airs were leaving; he stood up at once, indicating intense respect and eagerness to properly welcome and serve them.

Practical application of this verse in modern life—what should a student learn from it?

Cultivate humility and readiness to learn: when encountering genuine wisdom (teachers, sādhus, scripture), become attentive, rise above ego, and follow proper etiquette rather than remaining casual or distracted.