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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
4.25.304.25.32

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.25.31

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

त्वदाननं सुभ्रु सुतारलोचनं

व्यालम्बिनीलालकवृन्दसंवृतम् ।

उन्नीय मे दर्शय वल्गुवाचकं

यद्‌व्रीडया नाभिमुखं शुचिस्मिते ॥ ३१ ॥

tvad-ānanaṁ subhru sutāra-locanaṁ

vyālambi-nīlālaka-vṛnda-saṁvṛtam

unnīya me darśaya valgu-vācakaṁ

yad vrīḍayā nābhimukhaṁ śuci-smite

Translation

My dear girl, your face is so beautiful with your nice eyebrows and eyes and with your bluish hair scattered about. In addition, very sweet sounds are coming from your mouth. Nonetheless, you are so covered with shyness that you do not see me face to face. I therefore request you, my dear girl, to smile and kindly raise your head to see me.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Attraction Can Cover Real Knowledge

  1. 1

    Purañjana’s speech shows the bewilderment of a living entity attracted by material nature. Attraction to beauty makes one eager to enjoy.

  2. 2

    In conditioned life, a face, eyes or voice can become deeply attractive. The lover sees everything as beautiful in the beloved.

  3. 3

    This condition is called avidyā, or ignorance, which keeps one conditioned. Vidyā, or real knowledge, brings liberation.

Key points from the purport
  • When thus attracted by the beauty of the material energy, one becomes very eager to enjoy.
  • In conditional life the living entity is attracted by a face, eyebrows or eyes, a voice or anything.
  • The lover sees everything beautiful in the face of the beloved and thus becomes attracted.

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 4.25.31 quotesBG 7.27

This is described in Bhagavad-gītā (7.27): “O scion of Bharata [Arjuna], O conqueror of the foe, all living entities are born into delusion, overcome by the dualities of desire and hate.”

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. tvatyour
  2. ānanamface
  3. su-bhruhaving nice eyebrows
  4. su-tārawith nice pupils
  5. locanameyes
  6. vyālambiscattered
  7. nīlabluish
  8. alaka-vṛndaby locks of hair
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

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 4.25

    In this verse: “sweet”, “lover”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

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

    In this verse: “kindly”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

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

When does attraction make it difficult for me to see clearly?

Practice

Pause before following one attraction today and consider whether it strengthens ignorance or real knowledge.

5

The story around it

The stories this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayAttraction Can Cover Real KnowledgeThis 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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