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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

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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 25: The Descriptions of the Characteristics of King Purañjana

4.25.9 4.25.11

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.25.10

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Nārada Munisince 4.25.7inside 5 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraNārada Muni → King PrācīnabarhiThe allegory of King Purañjana → Prācīnabarhi, as listener

आसीत्पुरञ्जनो नाम राजा राजन् बृहच्छ्रवा: ।

तस्याविज्ञातनामासीत्सखाविज्ञातचेष्टित: ॥ १० ॥

āsīt purañjano nāma

rājā rājan bṛhac-chravāḥ

tasyāvijñāta-nāmāsīt

sakhāvijñāta-ceṣṭitaḥ

Translation

My dear King, once in the past lived a king named Purañjana, who was celebrated for his great activities. He had a friend named Avijñāta [“the unknown one”]. No one could understand the activities of Avijñāta.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Supersoul Is Our Unknown Friend

1
Every living entity is purañjana, living within a body and free to use it. Under the bodily conception of life, one mistakes serving the senses for life’s ultimate goal.
2
The living entity is eternal and does not die when the body is destroyed. He passes from one body to another, performing many activities.
3
God is present in everyone’s heart as Paramātmā, the Supersoul and friend of the living entity. Although we may think ourselves independent, no desire can be fulfilled without the Lord’s sanction.

Key points from the purport

Thus the living entity transmigrates from one body to another and performs various activities.
Therefore a living entity may be called bṛhac-chravāḥ; he may have a great reputation for various types of activities.
Although the Paramātmā sits beside the jīvātmā as a friend, the jīvātmā, or living entity, does not know it.

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· 3

The purport of SB 4.25.10 quotesBG 2.20

The living entity is famous from ancient times, for as stated in Bhagavad-gītā (2.20), na jāyate mriyate vā: “The living entity is never born and never dies.”

The purport of SB 4.25.10 quotesBG 2.24

It is stated in Bhagavad-gītā (2.24): “This individual soul is unbreakable and insoluble and can be neither burned nor dried.

The purport of SB 4.25.10 quotesBG 15.15

As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (15.15): “I am seated in everyone’s heart, and from Me come remembrance, knowledge and forgetfulness.”

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

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

Chapter 25: The Descriptions of the Characteristics of King Purañjana

Nārada’s allegory introduces Purañjana, his search for enjoyment, and his attraction to a woman.

Back to this verse in chapter 4.25

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

āsītthere was
purañjanaḥPurañjana
nāmanamed
rājāking
rājanO King
bṛhat-śravāḥwhose activities were great
tasyahis
avijñātathe unknown one

Key ideas in this verse

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

Īśānukathā · The science of God
Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10
Jñāna · Spiritual insight
Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 4.25
In this verse: “understand”
Sakhya · Sacred friendship
The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 4.25
In this verse: “friend”
Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership
Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.25
In this verse: “king”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How would remembering the Lord’s presence in my heart change my sense of independence?

Practice

Pause before pursuing one desire today and remember that the ability and opportunity to act depend on the Lord.

The story around it

The stories this chapter belongs to.

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 4.25's connections

Live this todayThe Supersoul Is Our Unknown FriendThis 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 4.25.10? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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