1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 4 · The Creation of the Fourth Order · 31 chapters

12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
4.25.394.25.41

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.25.40

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The womansince 4.25.40inside 5 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraNārada Muni → King PrācīnabarhiThe allegory of King Purañjana → Prācīnabarhi, as listener

पितृदेवर्षिमर्त्यानां भूतानामात्मनश्च ह ।

क्षेम्यं वदन्ति शरणं भवेऽस्मिन् यद्गृहाश्रम: ॥ ४० ॥

pitṛ-devarṣi-martyānāṁ

bhūtānām ātmanaś ca ha

kṣemyaṁ vadanti śaraṇaṁ

bhave ’smin yad gṛhāśramaḥ

Translation

The woman continued: According to authorities, the householder life is pleasing not only to oneself but to all the forefathers, demigods, great sages, saintly persons and everyone else. A householder life is thus beneficial.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Shelter in Kṛṣṇa Frees One From Debts

  1. 1

    Human birth brings obligations to demigods, forefathers, the public and animals. We receive necessities and support from many others.

  2. 2

    Unpaid obligations further entangle one in birth and death. Yet taking shelter at Mukunda’s lotus feet immediately frees one from these obligations.

  3. 3

    The gṛhamedhī, overly attached to material enjoyment, has little interest in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Taking sex life as supreme prevents one from acting in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Key points from the purport
  • According to the Vedic system, when one is born in this material world he has many obligations.
  • The gṛhamedhī, however, who is overly addicted to material things, does not know that if he simply takes shelter at the lotus feet of Mukunda, he is immediately freed from all obligations to others.
  • Unfortunately a gṛhamedhī does not have any interest in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

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 4.25.40 quotesSB 7.5.30

mitho ’bhipadyeta gṛha-vratānām. A gṛha-vrata is the same as a gṛhamedhī.

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. pitṛforefathers
  2. devademigods
  3. ṛṣisages
  4. martyānāmof humanity in general
  5. bhūtānāmof the infinite living entities
  6. ātmanaḥof oneself
  7. caalso
  8. hacertainly
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: “householder”, “attached”, “material”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

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

    In this verse: “death”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 4.25

    In this verse: “shelter”

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 gratitude for all I receive deepen my desire to take shelter of Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Offer a brief, sincere prayer to Kṛṣṇa today, asking for shelter and freedom from attachment that obstructs His service.

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 7.5.30

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

Live this todayShelter in Kṛṣṇa Frees One From DebtsThis 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 4.25.40? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories