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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
4.25.364.25.38

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.25.37

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

इमां त्वमधितिष्ठस्व पुरीं नवमुखीं विभो ।

मयोपनीतान् गृह्णान: कामभोगान् शतं समा: ॥ ३७ ॥

imāṁ tvam adhitiṣṭhasva

purīṁ nava-mukhīṁ vibho

mayopanītān gṛhṇānaḥ

kāma-bhogān śataṁ samāḥ

Translation

My dear lord, I have just arranged this city of nine gates for you so that you can have all kinds of sense gratification. You may live here for one hundred years, and everything for your sense gratification will be supplied.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Regulated Household Life Supports Liberation

  1. 1

    The woman offers Purañjana a city of nine gates and facilities for sense gratification for one hundred years.

  2. 2

    The purport describes a wife as a helper in religion, economic development, sense gratification and ultimately liberation. Marriage is meant to support progressive spiritual development.

  3. 3

    Training as a brahmacārī precedes household life. Properly trained householders meet life’s needs according to regulative principles.

Key points from the purport
  • Dharmārtha-kāma-mokṣānāṁ dārāḥ samprāpti-hetavaḥ: the wife is the cause of all kinds of success in religion, economic development, sense gratification and ultimately salvation.
  • In the beginning of life a person is trained as a brahmacārī and is then allowed to marry a suitable girl and become a householder.
  • Everything is there if it is executed according to regulative principles.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. imāmthis
  2. tvamyour good self
  3. adhitiṣṭhasvajust remain
  4. purīmin the city
  5. nava-mukhīmwith nine gates
  6. vibhoO my lord
  7. mayāby me
  8. upanītānarranged
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”, “household”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 4.25

    In this verse: “religion”, “principles”

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 can my daily arrangements support progress toward liberation?

Practice

Review one household routine today and consider whether it follows regulated living or merely encourages enjoyment.

5

The story around it

The stories this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayRegulated Household Life Supports LiberationThis 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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