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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
4.25.274.25.29

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.25.28

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

त्वं ह्रीर्भवान्यस्यथ वाग्रमा पतिं

विचिन्वती किं मुनिवद्रहो वने ।

त्वदङ्‌घ्रिकामाप्तसमस्तकामं

क्‍व पद्मकोश: पतित: कराग्रात् ॥ २८ ॥

tvaṁ hrīr bhavāny asy atha vāg ramā patiṁ

vicinvatī kiṁ munivad raho vane

tvad-aṅghri-kāmāpta-samasta-kāmaṁ

kva padma-kośaḥ patitaḥ karāgrāt

Translation

My dear beautiful girl, you are exactly like the goddess of fortune or the wife of Lord Śiva or the goddess of learning, the wife of Lord Brahmā. Although you must be one of them, I see that you are loitering in this forest. Indeed, you are as silent as the great sages. Is it that you are searching after your own husband? Whoever your husband may be, simply by understanding that you are so faithful to him, he will come to possess all opulences. I think you must be the goddess of fortune, but I do not see the lotus flower in your hand. Therefore I am asking you where you have thrown that lotus.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Employ Intelligence in the Lord’s Service

  1. 1

    Everyone thinks their intelligence is perfect, yet Purañjana is bewildered about how to use his. Intelligence should be employed in the service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  2. 2

    Lakṣmī, the goddess of fortune, never remains without her husband, Lord Viṣṇu. Worshiping Lord Viṣṇu automatically brings her favor.

  3. 3

    The desire for material enjoyment conditions the living entity, while freedom from that attraction brings liberation. Material energy works under Lord Viṣṇu’s direction and is not ours to enjoy independently.

Key points from the purport
  • The goddess of fortune, Lakṣmī, never remains without her husband, Lord Viṣṇu.
  • Consequently, when one worships Lord Viṣṇu he automatically obtains the favor of the goddess of fortune.
  • One should not, like Rāvaṇa, worship the goddess of fortune alone, for she cannot remain long without her husband.

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tvamyou
  2. hrīḥshyness
  3. bhavānīthe wife of Lord Śiva
  4. asiare
  5. atharather
  6. vākSarasvatī, the goddess of learning
  7. ramāthe goddess of fortune
  8. patimhusband
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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “understanding”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 4.25

    In this verse: “material”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “worshiping”

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

Am I using my intelligence mainly to obtain enjoyment or to serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead?

Practice

Choose one ability you possess and make a small plan to use it in the Lord’s service today.

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 todayEmploy Intelligence in the Lord’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 4.25.28? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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