King Purañjana Goes to the Forest to Hunt, and His Queen Becomes Angry

Purañjana kills innocent animals while hunting, then returns and tries to soothe his distressed queen.

Themes of SB 4.26Moha5 Vairāgya5 Jñāna4 Bhakti3 from its story phase

Connected storiesMahārāja PṛthuAmbarīṣa Mahārāja

Who is speakingSūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraNārada Muni → King PrācīnabarhiThe allegory of King Purañjana → Prācīnabarhi, as listenerEvery voice in this chapter ›

What this chapter speaks about · the ten subjects

In this chapter

Who · Nārada, King Prācīnabarhiṣat, King Purañjana, his queen, Caṇḍavega, the protecting serpent

The story · Nārada told King Prācīnabarhiṣat an allegory about Purañjana, who traveled everywhere seeking satisfaction for his unlimited desires. Purañjana became attracted to a woman and enjoyed life in a city protected by a watchful serpent. On a hunting trip he mercilessly killed innocent animals, then returned home and tried to soothe his distressed queen. His attachment to his wife, descendants, and possessions grew deeply rooted. Meanwhile, Caṇḍavega’s forces attacked the city, and its protecting serpent fought them for one hundred years.

What it teaches · The account warns against treating family life and the search for wealth as life’s ultimate goal. Absorption in enjoyment leaves one bound to material existence.

SB 4.25.6 SB 4.27.10 SB 4.27.16 Read chapter 25 ›

Beyond this chapter

Connected stories across the Bhāgavatam

Stories told in other chapters that this chapter's verses or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purports bring in, the other Bhāgavatam verses the purports quote, and stories in other cantos with the same themes. Each link shows the sentence it comes from.

Mahārāja Pṛthu

SB 4.15–18 · Pṛthu provides for his citizens SB 4.19–20 · Pṛthu’s sacrifice and prayers SB 4.21–23 · Pṛthu’s life of devoted service

What it teaches · Pṛthu’s example joins humility with practical care for others. A king should act like an affectionate father, providing for his citizens.

King Purañjana was a representative of King Prācīnabarhiṣat, and Nārada Muni was reminding King Prācīnabarhiṣat of his forefather, Mahārāja Pṛthu, who never chastised a brāhmaṇa or a Vaiṣṇava.
Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport · SB 4.26.24 (Text 24)

Read the story in SB 4.15–18

Ambarīṣa Mahārāja

SB 9.4–5 · Ambarīṣa protects Durvāsā

What it teaches · A devotee finds happiness in serving Kṛṣṇa rather than in wealth or mystic achievements. Ambarīṣa’s humility and compassion extended even to the person who had offended him.

Even the great yogī Durvāsā was harassed by the Sudarśana cakra when he offended the Vaiṣṇava Mahārāja Ambarīṣa, who was neither a brāhmaṇa nor a sannyāsī but an ordinary householder.
Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport · SB 4.26.24 (Text 24)

Read the story in SB 9.4–5

Other Bhāgavatam verses Śrīla Prabhupāda quotes here

Same themes in another canto

Both chapters carry these themes strongly in the themes map, an editorial reading of each chapter's story.

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