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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
4.25.384.25.40

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.25.39

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The womansince 4.25.39inside 5 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraNārada Muni → King PrācīnabarhiThe allegory of King Purañjana → Prācīnabarhi, as listener

धर्मो ह्यत्रार्थकामौ च प्रजानन्दोऽमृतं यश: ।

लोका विशोका विरजा यान्न केवलिनो विदु: ॥ ३९ ॥

dharmo hy atrārtha-kāmau ca

prajānando ’mṛtaṁ yaśaḥ

lokā viśokā virajā

yān na kevalino viduḥ

Translation

The woman continued: In this material world, a householder’s life brings all kinds of happiness in religion, economic development, sense gratification and the begetting of children, sons and grandsons. After that, one may desire liberation as well as material reputation. The householder can appreciate the results of sacrifices, which enable him to gain promotion to superior planetary systems. All this material happiness is practically unknown to the transcendentalists. They cannot even imagine such happiness.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Distinguish Enjoyment From Spiritual Advancement

  1. 1

    Pravṛtti-mārga permits sense enjoyment under Vedic directions, while nivṛtti-mārga is the path of spiritual advancement. Religious life is the basis of both paths.

  2. 2

    The woman praises pravṛtti-mārga and discourages nivṛtti-mārga. She emphasizes family happiness, material prosperity and promotion to heavenly planets.

  3. 3

    A gṛhastha follows Vedic instructions, whereas a gṛhamedhī is interested only in sense gratification. Excessive attachment to sex makes one neglect transcendental spiritual life.

Key points from the purport
  • The social orders are divided into four parts — brahmacarya, gṛhastha, vānaprastha and sannyāsa — and only in the householder life can the pravṛtti-mārga be encouraged or accepted according to Vedic instructions.
  • Factually, however, pravṛtti-mārga is based on sex life.
  • The gṛhamedhī, however, who is interested only in sense gratification, does not follow any Vedic instruction.

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 4.25.39 quotesSB 7.9.45

As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (7.9.45), yan maithunādi-gṛhamedhi-sukhaṁ hi tuccham.

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. dharmaḥreligious ritual
  2. hicertainly
  3. atrahere (in this gṛhastha-āśrama, or householder life)
  4. arthaeconomic development
  5. kāmausense gratification
  6. caand
  7. prajā-ānandaḥthe pleasure of generations
  8. amṛtamthe results of sacrifice
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”, “householder’s”, “material”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

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

    In this verse: “religion”, “religious”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 4.25

    In this verse: “children”

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 seek religious life mainly for material happiness or for spiritual advancement?

Practice

Examine one goal today and write whether it chiefly serves sense enjoyment or spiritual advancement.

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 7.9.45

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

Live this todayDistinguish Enjoyment From Spiritual AdvancementThis 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 4.25.39? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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