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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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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 25: The Descriptions of the Characteristics of King Purañjana
4.25.104.25.12

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.25.11

Ūti· What drives us to act
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

सोऽन्वेषमाण: शरणं बभ्राम पृथिवीं प्रभु: ।

नानुरूपं यदाविन्ददभूत्स विमना इव ॥ ११ ॥

so ’nveṣamāṇaḥ śaraṇaṁ

babhrāma pṛthivīṁ prabhuḥ

nānurūpaṁ yadāvindad

abhūt sa vimanā iva

Translation

King Purañjana began to search for a suitable place to live, and thus he traveled all over the world. Even after a great deal of traveling, he could not find a place just to his liking. Finally he became morose and disappointed.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Happiness Begins With Taking Kṛṣṇa’s Shelter

  1. 1

    The living entity wants to become an independent master, but he is actually the eternal servant of God. Abandoning Kṛṣṇa’s shelter, he wanders through different bodies and planets.

  2. 2

    No position in the material world gives the spirit soul lasting satisfaction. Even those in the highest positions remain subject to anxiety, repeated birth and death.

  3. 3

    Happiness begins when one gives up the claim to independent mastery and becomes Kṛṣṇa’s servant. Association with devotees offers the opportunity to take shelter of Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Lord, and begin real life in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Key points from the purport
  • The living entity wanders throughout these various types of bodies and throughout different planets, and thus he is like King Purañjana, who traveled all over the world looking for a suitable place to live.
  • Thus Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura points out that the living entity travels in different types of bodies and eats all kinds of abominable things.
  • In the material world a living entity is never satisfied.

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· 4

The purport of SB 4.25.11 quotesBG 18.61

As stated in the Bhagavad-gītā (18.61): “The Supreme Lord is situated in everyone’s heart, O Arjuna, and is directing the wanderings of all living entities, who are seated as on a machine made of the material energy.”

The purport of SB 4.25.11 quotesBG 18.66

Do not fear.”. Thus we are immediately relieved from traveling from one body to another and from one planet to another.

The purport of SB 4.25.11 quotesCC Madhya 19.151

Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu says, brahmāṇḍa bhramite kona bhāgyavān jīva. If, while traveling, a living entity becomes fortunate enough to become blessed by the association of devotees and to come to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, his real life actually begins.

The purport of SB 4.25.11 quotesBG 8.16

Bhagavad-gītā (8.16) confirms: “From the highest planet in the material world down to the lowest, all are places of misery wherein repeated birth and death take place.”

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

Further reading

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. saḥthat King Purañjana
  2. anveṣamāṇaḥsearching after
  3. śaraṇamshelter
  4. babhrāmatraveled over
  5. pṛthivīmthe whole planet earth
  6. prabhuḥto become an independent master
  7. nanever
  8. anurūpamto his liking
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.25

    In this verse: “king”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 4.25

    In this verse: “material”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 4.25

    In this verse: “devotees”

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

Where am I seeking happiness through independence rather than through service to Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Take a quiet moment today to remember, “I am Kṛṣṇa’s servant,” and ask to take shelter of Him.

5

The story around it

The stories this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHappiness Begins With Taking Kṛṣṇa’s ShelterThis 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.

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