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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
4.25.24.25.4

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.25.3

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
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

प्राचीनबर्हिषं क्षत्त: कर्मस्वासक्तमानसम् ।

नारदोऽध्यात्मतत्त्वज्ञ: कृपालु: प्रत्यबोधयत् ॥ ३ ॥

prācīnabarhiṣaṁ kṣattaḥ

karmasv āsakta-mānasam

nārado ’dhyātma-tattva-jñaḥ

kṛpāluḥ pratyabodhayat

Translation

While the princes were undergoing severe austerities in the water, their father was performing different types of fruitive activities. At this time the great saint Nārada, master and teacher of all spiritual life, became very compassionate upon the King and decided to instruct him about spiritual life.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Compassion Guides Us Beyond Fruitive Activities

  1. 1

    While the princes performed austerities, their father remained attached to fruitive activities. Nārada compassionately decided to instruct him in spiritual life.

  2. 2

    The karmīs seek heavenly enjoyment, while the jñānīs seek merging into the Brahman effulgence. A devotee does not give importance to either goal.

  3. 3

    Sacrifices for heavenly elevation are superior to ordinary material work. Yet in pure devotional service, both karma and jñāna are considered bewildering features of the illusory energy.

Key points from the purport
  • As pointed out by Prabodhānanda Sarasvatī Ṭhākura, a great devotee of Lord Caitanya, kaivalya, or merging into the Brahman effulgence, is just like going to hell.
  • The ultimate goal of the karmīs is promotion to the heavenly kingdom, and the ultimate goal of the jñānīs is merging into the Brahman effulgence.
  • Nārada Muni took compassion upon King Prācīnabarhiṣat when he saw the King engaged in fruitive activity.

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· 1

The purport of SB 4.25.3 quotesCC Madhya 19.147

Koṭi-karmaniṣṭha-madhye eka ‘jñānī’ śreṣṭha: “One jñānī, or impersonalist, is better than many thousands of fruitive actors.”

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. prācīnabarhiṣamunto King Prācīnabarhiṣat
  2. kṣattaḥO Vidura
  3. karmasuin fruitive activities
  4. āsaktaattached
  5. mānasamwith this mentality
  6. nāradaḥthe great sage Nārada
  7. adhyātmaspiritualism
  8. tattva-jñaḥone who knows the truth
  9. kṛpāluḥbeing compassionate
  10. pratyabodhayatgave instructions
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 4.25

    In this verse: “compassionate”, “compassionately”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “attached”, “material”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “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

Am I seeking spiritual instruction for personal rewards or for pure devotional service?

Practice

Before one devotional activity today, pause and make service—not personal reward—your intention.

5

The story around it

The stories this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayCompassion Guides Us Beyond Fruitive ActivitiesThis 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 4.25.3? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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