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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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Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
4.25.14.25.3

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.25.2

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 4.25.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

रुद्रगीतं भगवत: स्तोत्रं सर्वे प्रचेतस: ।

जपन्तस्ते तपस्तेपुर्वर्षाणामयुतं जले ॥ २ ॥

rudra-gītaṁ bhagavataḥ

stotraṁ sarve pracetasaḥ

japantas te tapas tepur

varṣāṇām ayutaṁ jale

Translation

All the Pracetā princes simply stood in the water for ten thousand years and recited the prayers given to them by Lord Śiva.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Dedicate Time to Spiritual Austerity

  1. 1

    The Pracetā princes stood in water for ten thousand years, reciting the prayers given by Lord Śiva.

  2. 2

    The purport explains that living in water requires suitable conditions, just as aquatic creatures have. People in those days lived for one hundred thousand years.

  3. 3

    Such austerity was possible in Satya-yuga, though impossible in this age. Giving ten thousand years of that long life to austerity could assure success in their future life.

Key points from the purport
  • Of course in the modern age one may be amazed how the princes could stand in the water for ten thousand years.
  • The aquatics live within water for their whole life span.
  • In those days, however, people used to live for one hundred thousand years.

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. rudra-gītamthe song sung by Lord Śiva
  2. bhagavataḥof the Lord
  3. stotramprayer
  4. sarveall
  5. pracetasaḥthe princes known as the Pracetās
  6. japantaḥreciting
  7. teall of them
  8. tapaḥausterity
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

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

    In this verse: “recited”, “reciting”

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 time am I willing to set aside for sincere prayer?

Practice

Set aside five quiet minutes today to recite a prayer, without trying to imitate the princes’ extraordinary austerity.

5

The story around it

The stories this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDedicate Time to Spiritual AusterityThis 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.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 4.25.2? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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