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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
4.25.144.25.16

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.25.15

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

नीलस्फटिकवैदूर्यमुक्तामरकतारुणै: ।

क्लृप्तहर्म्यस्थलीं दीप्तां श्रिया भोगवतीमिव ॥ १५ ॥

nīla-sphaṭika-vaidūrya-

muktā-marakatāruṇaiḥ

kḷpta-harmya-sthalīṁ dīptāṁ

śriyā bhogavatīm iva

Translation

The floors of the houses in that city were made of sapphire, crystal, diamonds, pearls, emeralds and rubies. Because of the luster of the houses in the capital, the city was compared to the celestial town named Bhogavatī.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Heart Plans Material Enjoyment

  1. 1

    In the city of the body, the heart is compared to the capital. It is the center of plans for material enjoyment.

  2. 2

    Just as a capital contains splendid buildings and palaces, the heart contains many desires and plans. These inward plans can seem very attractive.

  3. 3

    Plans for enjoyment are compared to valuable jewels such as sapphires, rubies, pearls and emeralds. The city's splendor thus illustrates the desires filling the heart.

Key points from the purport
  • In the city of the body, the heart is considered to be the capital.
  • Just as the capital of a state is especially gorgeously filled with various high buildings and lustrous palaces, the heart of the body is filled with various desires and plans for material enjoyment.
  • The heart becomes the center for all planning for material enjoyment.

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. nīlasapphires
  2. sphaṭikacrystal
  3. vaidūryadiamonds
  4. muktāpearls
  5. marakataemeralds
  6. aruṇaiḥwith rubies
  7. kḷptabedecked
  8. harmya-sthalīmthe floors of the palaces
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: “luster”, “material”

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

Which plans for material enjoyment are occupying my heart today?

Practice

Write down one recurring desire for material enjoyment and notice how much planning it produces.

5

The story around it

The stories this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Heart Plans Material EnjoymentThis 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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