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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.
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Canto 4 · Chapter 25: The Descriptions of the Characteristics of King Purañjana
4.25.334.25.35

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.25.34

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The girlsince 4.25.33inside 5 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraNārada Muni → King PrācīnabarhiThe allegory of King Purañjana → Prācīnabarhi, as listener

इहाद्य सन्तमात्मानं विदाम न तत: परम् ।

येनेयं निर्मिता वीर पुरी शरणमात्मन: ॥ ३४ ॥

ihādya santam ātmānaṁ

vidāma na tataḥ param

yeneyaṁ nirmitā vīra

purī śaraṇam ātmanaḥ

Translation

O great hero, we only know that we are existing in this place. We do not know what will come after. Indeed, we are so foolish that we do not care to understand who has created this beautiful place for our residence.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Human Life Is Meant to Dispel Ignorance

  1. 1

    The girl knows only that they presently exist in this place. She admits that they do not care to understand who created it.

  2. 2

    The purport calls lack of Kṛṣṇa consciousness ignorance. Material plans and achievements do not remove this basic ignorance.

  3. 3

    Human life is especially meant to dissipate ignorance. Unless one comes to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, one’s activities are defeated, and material plans end at death.

Key points from the purport
  • This lack of Kṛṣṇa consciousness is called ignorance.
  • In our ignorance we may create nationalism, philanthropy, internationalism, science, philosophy and so many other things.
  • The basic principle behind all these is ignorance.

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 4.25.34 quotesSB 5.5.5

In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (5.5.5) it is called parābhavas tāvad abodha-jātaḥ.

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. ihahere
  2. adyatoday
  3. santamexisting
  4. ātmānamliving entities
  5. vidāmathat much we know
  6. nanot
  7. tataḥ parambeyond that
  8. yenaby whom
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: “understand”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 4.25

    In this verse: “death”

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

How much of my effort goes toward removing ignorance rather than simply making plans?

Practice

Set aside five minutes today to study this teaching about Kṛṣṇa consciousness and the purpose of human life.

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 5.5.5

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

Live this todayHuman Life Is Meant to Dispel IgnoranceThis 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 4.25.34? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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