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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
4.25.374.25.39

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.25.38

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

कं नु त्वदन्यं रमये ह्यरतिज्ञमकोविदम् ।

असम्परायाभिमुखमश्वस्तनविदं पशुम् ॥ ३८ ॥

kaṁ nu tvad-anyaṁ ramaye

hy arati-jñam akovidam

asamparāyābhimukham

aśvastana-vidaṁ paśum

Translation

How can I expect to unite with others, who are neither conversant about sex nor capable of knowing how to enjoy life while living or after death? Such foolish persons are like animals because they do not know the process of sense enjoyment in this life and after death.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Understand the Purpose of Spiritual Restraint

  1. 1

    The woman dismisses those who do not know how to enjoy material life. Her words express a materially inclined view.

  2. 2

    Among the four spiritual orders, sex life is allowed only in the gṛhastha, or householder, āśrama. Brahmacārīs, vānaprasthas and sannyāsīs refrain from it.

  3. 3

    Karmīs prefer household life because it permits sex enjoyment. Their attachment leads them to look down on orders devoted to restraint and renunciation.

Key points from the purport
  • In the upper grades (in the life of birds and bees) there is sex, but the insects and animals do not know how to actually enjoy sex life.
  • In human life there are also such divisions as brahmacarya, gṛhastha, vānaprastha and sannyāsa.
  • The karmīs, therefore, abhor these orders of spiritual life.

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. kamunto whom
  2. nuthen
  3. tvatthan you
  4. anyamother
  5. ramayeI shall allow to enjoy
  6. hicertainly
  7. arati-jñamwithout knowledge of sex enjoyment
  8. akovidamtherefore almost foolish
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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: “attachment”, “householder”, “material”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

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

    In this verse: “death”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

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

    In this verse: “āśrama”

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

Do I judge spiritual restraint by how much enjoyment it permits?

Practice

Reflect for one minute today on respecting spiritual restraint rather than dismissing it as a loss of enjoyment.

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The story around it

The stories this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayUnderstand the Purpose of Spiritual RestraintThis 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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