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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 25: The Descriptions of the Characteristics of King Purañjana
4.25.114.25.13

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.25.12

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

न साधु मेने ता: सर्वा भूतले यावती:

पुर: ।

कामान् कामयमानोऽसौ तस्य तस्योपपत्तये ॥ १२ ॥

na sādhu mene tāḥ sarvā

bhūtale yāvatīḥ puraḥ

kāmān kāmayamāno ’sau

tasya tasyopapattaye

Translation

King Purañjana had unlimited desires for sense enjoyment; consequently he traveled all over the world to find a place where all his desires could be fulfilled. Unfortunately he found a feeling of insufficiency everywhere.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Sense Enjoyment Cannot Give Complete Satisfaction

  1. 1

    Material sense gratification through society, friendship and love is compared to a drop of water in a desert. It cannot satisfy the living entity’s longing for complete enjoyment.

  2. 2

    The living entity is part and parcel of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is full of enjoyment. Complete enjoyment cannot be achieved separately from Him.

  3. 3

    In every material body, attempts to satisfy the senses bring limitations and dangers. The more one tries to satisfy the senses, the more one becomes entangled and ultimately disappointed.

Key points from the purport
  • Being part and parcel of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the living entity is also seeking complete enjoyment.
  • In his wanderings in the different species of life, the living entity may taste some type of enjoyment in one body or another, but full enjoyment of the senses cannot be obtained in any material body.
  • In each and every species of life, the living entity gets a body to satisfy various senses, but he cannot enjoy all his senses at one time.

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

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. nanever
  2. sādhugood
  3. menethought
  4. tāḥthem
  5. sarvāḥall
  6. bhū-taleon this earth
  7. yāvatīḥall kinds of
  8. puraḥresidential houses
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “sense gratification”, “material”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.25

    In this verse: “king”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 4.25

    In this verse: “dangers”

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

What enjoyment am I expecting to satisfy me completely, although it has repeatedly left me wanting more?

Practice

Before repeating one unsatisfying sense pleasure today, pause and recall that complete enjoyment cannot be found apart from the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

5

The story around it

The stories this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySense Enjoyment Cannot Give Complete SatisfactionThis 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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