1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min
Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.
Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.25.14
प्राकारोपवनाट्टालपरिखैरक्षतोरणै: ।
स्वर्णरौप्यायसै: शृङ्गै: सङ्कुलां सर्वतो गृहै: ॥ १४ ॥
prākāropavanāṭṭāla-
parikhair akṣa-toraṇaiḥ
svarṇa-raupyāyasaiḥ śṛṅgaiḥ
saṅkulāṁ sarvato gṛhaiḥ
That city was surrounded by walls and parks, and within it were towers, canals, windows and outlets. The houses there were decorated with domes made of gold, silver and iron.
Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.ioThree study points drawn from the translation and purport.
The city's features represent parts of the body: skin is its protective wall, hair its parks, and eyes its windows. The eyelids serve as protective gates.
Gold, silver and iron represent the three modes of material nature. Gold stands for goodness, silver for passion and iron for ignorance.
The body is also described as a bag containing mucus, bile and air. The purport strongly warns against considering this material body to be the self.
Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.
The purport of SB 4.25.14 quotesSB 10.84.13
According to Bhāgavatam (10.84.13), one who considers this bag of mucus, bile and air to be the self is considered no better than a cow or an ass.
Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.
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
Nārada’s allegory introduces Purañjana, his search for enjoyment, and his attraction to a woman.
Back to this verse in chapter 4.25Learn the Sanskrit words of the 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”
Rakṣā · Divine protection
Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 4.25
In this verse: “protective”
Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.
Take one thing from this verse into your day.
When do I mistake my bodily appearance or condition for my whole identity?
While caring for your body today, pause and remember that the body is not the self.
The stories this chapter belongs to.
Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.
The purport quotesSB 10.84.13
Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 4.25's connections
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 4.25.14? Get an answer from the verses themselves.