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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
4.25.284.25.30

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.25.29

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

नासां वरोर्वन्यतमा भुविस्पृक्

पुरीमिमां वीरवरेण साकम् ।

अर्हस्यलङ्कर्तुमदभ्रकर्मणा

लोकं परं श्रीरिव यज्ञपुंसा ॥ २९ ॥

nāsāṁ varorv anyatamā bhuvi-spṛk

purīm imāṁ vīra-vareṇa sākam

arhasy alaṅkartum adabhra-karmaṇā

lokaṁ paraṁ śrīr iva yajña-puṁsā

Translation

O greatly fortunate one, it appears that you are none of the women I have mentioned because I see that your feet are touching the ground. But if you are some woman of this planet, you can, like the goddess of fortune — who, accompanied by Lord Viṣṇu, increases the beauty of the Vaikuṇṭha planets — also increase the beauty of this city by associating with me. You should understand that I am a great hero and a very powerful king on this planet.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Live as the Supreme Lord’s Subordinate

  1. 1

    Devotees understand that the goddess of fortune is the constant companion of Viṣṇu, or Nārāyaṇa, and cannot be enjoyed by a living entity. This understanding is called Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

  2. 2

    Enjoying the material world as a subordinate of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is godly. Wanting enjoyment without considering Him is the demoniac mentality.

  3. 3

    Purañjana presents himself as powerful and influential to attract the girl. The purport explains that both men and women can seek to be enjoyers, and this material desire belongs to māyā.

Key points from the purport
  • Purañjana could understand that this girl did not belong to the transcendental world or the higher planetary system because her feet were touching the ground.
  • Since every woman in this world wants her husband to be very influential, rich and powerful, Purañjana, to seduce the girl, introduced himself as such a personality.
  • In the material world, whether one be a man or a woman, one wants to enjoy.

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. nanot
  2. āsāmof these
  3. varoruO most fortunate one
  4. anya-tamāanyone
  5. bhuvi-spṛktouching the ground
  6. purīmcity
  7. imāmthis
  8. vīra-vareṇathe great hero
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: “māyā”, “material”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “understand”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.25

    In this verse: “king”

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

Do my plans for happiness acknowledge my position as a subordinate of the Supreme Personality of Godhead?

Practice

Before one enjoyable activity today, pause and consider whether your choice respects your position as the Lord’s subordinate.

5

The story around it

The stories this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayLive as the Supreme Lord’s SubordinateThis 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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