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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.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 4 · Chapter 25: The Descriptions of the Characteristics of King Purañjana
4.25.124.25.14

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.25.13

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

स एकदा हिमवतो दक्षिणेष्वथ सानुषु ।

ददर्श नवभिर्द्वार्भि: पुरं लक्षितलक्षणाम् ॥ १३ ॥

sa ekadā himavato

dakṣiṇeṣv atha sānuṣu

dadarśa navabhir dvārbhiḥ

puraṁ lakṣita-lakṣaṇām

Translation

Once, while wandering in this way, he saw on the southern side of the Himālayas, in a place named Bhārata-varṣa [India], a city that had nine gates all about and was characterized by all auspicious facilities.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Use Human Facilities for Spiritual Advancement

  1. 1

    The city of nine gates represents the human body. Its gates are the two eyes, two ears, two nostrils, mouth, genital organ and rectum.

  2. 2

    Birth in Bhārata-varṣa offers valuable facilities for spiritual advancement through Vedic culture. Human life is meant for spiritual progress while keeping material necessities in order.

  3. 3

    The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement brings material facilities and spiritual knowledge together for everyone's benefit. Bathing, attending maṅgala-ārati, chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa and taking prasāda help one become spiritually enlightened.

Key points from the purport
  • He may take advantage of all these facilities for both material and spiritual advancement and thus make his life successful.
  • Especially in the Western countries there are ample facilities for material comforts, but no one has any idea of spiritual advancement.
  • In short, the material advancement of the Western countries and the spiritual assets of India should combine for the elevation of all human society.

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· 1

The purport of SB 4.25.13 quotesCC Ādi 9.41

janma sārthaka kari’ kara para-upakāra. Thus whoever takes birth in the land of Bhārata-varṣa attains all the facilities of life.

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. ekadāonce upon a time
  3. himavataḥof the Himālaya Mountains
  4. dakṣiṇeṣusouthern
  5. athaafter this
  6. sānuṣuon the ridges
  7. dadarśafound
  8. navabhiḥwith nine
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: “material”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 4.25

    In this verse: “knowledge”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 4.25

    In this verse: “chanting”

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

How can I use the facilities I already have for spiritual advancement?

Practice

Set aside a few minutes today to chant Hare Kṛṣṇa.

5

The story around it

The stories this chapter belongs to.

6

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 todayUse Human Facilities for Spiritual AdvancementThis 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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