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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
4.25.314.25.33

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.25.32

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Nārada Munisince 4.25.32inside 5 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraNārada Muni → King PrācīnabarhiThe allegory of King Purañjana → Prācīnabarhi, as listener

नारद उवाच

इत्थं पुरञ्जनं नारी याचमानमधीरवत् ।

अभ्यनन्दत तं वीरं हसन्ती वीर मोहिता ॥ ३२ ॥

nārada uvāca

itthaṁ purañjanaṁ nārī

yācamānam adhīravat

abhyanandata taṁ vīraṁ

hasantī vīra mohitā

Translation

Nārada continued: My dear King, when Purañjana became so attracted and impatient to touch the girl and enjoy her, the girl also became attracted by his words and accepted his request by smiling. By this time she was certainly attracted by the King.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Sense Enjoyment Covers Kṛṣṇa Consciousness

  1. 1

    Purañjana becomes impatient to enjoy the girl, and she becomes attracted by his words. Their exchange illustrates mutual attraction on the platform of sexual life.

  2. 2

    The sex impulse is described as the platform of material engagement. Material sense enjoyment causes forgetfulness of spiritual life.

  3. 3

    The living entity’s original Kṛṣṇa consciousness becomes covered by material consciousness. Thus one becomes occupied with sense gratification.

Key points from the purport
  • By this incident we can understand that when a man is aggressive and begins to woo a woman, the woman becomes attracted to the man.
  • Thus the sex impulse is the platform of material engagement.
  • Thus one engages in the business of sense gratification.

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 4.25.32 quotesSB 5.5.8

This process is described in the Bhāgavatam (5.5.8) as puṁsaḥ striyā mithunī-bhāvam etam.

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. nāradaḥ uvācathe great sage Nārada continued to speak
  2. itthamupon this
  3. purañjanamunto Purañjana
  4. nārīthe woman
  5. yācamānambegging
  6. adhīra-vatbeing too impatient
  7. abhyanandatashe addressed
  8. tamhim
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: “sense gratification”, “material”

  • 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

Which desire for enjoyment most often makes me forget spiritual life?

Practice

When one desire for sense enjoyment arises today, pause and remember that your original consciousness is Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

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.

The purport quotesSB 5.5.8

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 4.25's connections

Live this todaySense Enjoyment Covers Kṛṣṇa ConsciousnessThis 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 4.25.32? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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