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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
4.25.234.25.25

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.25.24

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

स्तनौ व्यञ्जितकैशोरौ समवृत्तौ निरन्तरौ ।

वस्त्रान्तेन निगूहन्तीं व्रीडया गजगामिनीम् ॥ २४ ॥

stanau vyañjita-kaiśorau

sama-vṛttau nirantarau

vastrāntena nigūhantīṁ

vrīḍayā gaja-gāminīm

Translation

With the end of her sārī the woman was trying to cover her breasts, which were equally round and well placed side by side. She again and again tried to cover them out of shyness while she walked exactly like a great elephant.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Turn Desire Toward Kṛṣṇa’s Service

  1. 1

    The woman’s two breasts represent attachment and envy. Both are unfavorable for advancement in spiritual life.

  2. 2

    One should not fall under the control of senses and sense objects, which obstruct self-realization. Loving service to Kṛṣṇa offers ever-new spiritual pleasure.

  3. 3

    Desire can be transformed through Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Just as a material worker labors to satisfy personal desires, a devotee can work hard to satisfy Kṛṣṇa.

Key points from the purport
  • One should not be attracted by the breasts of young women.
  • The word nigūhantīm, “trying to cover,” indicates that even if one is tainted by kāma, lobha, krodha, etc., they can be transfigured by Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
  • Thus kāma (lust) can be utilized to satisfy Kṛṣṇa, and krodha (anger) can be utilized to punish the demons.

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· 2

The purport of SB 4.25.24 quotesBG 3.34

The symptoms of rāga and dveṣa (attachment and envy) are described in Bhagavad-gītā (3.34): “Attraction and repulsion for sense objects are felt by embodied beings, but one should not fall under the control of senses and sense objects because they are stumbling blocks on the path of self-realization.”

The purport of SB 4.25.24 quotesBG 3.37

As described in Bhagavad-gītā (3.37), they are both products of rajo-guṇa (kāma eṣa krodha eṣa rajo-guṇa-samudbhavaḥ).

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. stanaubreasts
  2. vyañjitaindicating
  3. kaiśoraunew youth
  4. sama-vṛttauequally round
  5. nirantaraufixed close, side by side
  6. vastra-antenaby the end of the sārī
  7. nigūhantīmtrying to cover
  8. vrīḍayāout of shyness
  9. gaja-gāminīmwalking just like a great elephant
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: “attachment”, “material”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 4.25

    In this verse: “devotee”

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 energy now spent on personal enjoyment could I use to satisfy Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Set aside five minutes today to do one act of devotional service with the intention of satisfying 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 todayTurn Desire Toward Kṛṣṇa’s ServiceThis 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 4.25.24? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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