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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.25.46

Who is speaking and story frame

पञ्च द्वारस्तु पौरस्त्या दक्षिणैका तथोत्तरा ।

पश्चिमे द्वे अमूषां ते नामानि नृप वर्णये ॥ ४६ ॥

pañca dvāras tu paurastyā

dakṣiṇaikā tathottarā

paścime dve amūṣāṁ te

nāmāni nṛpa varṇaye

Translation

My dear King, of the nine doors, five led toward the eastern side, one led toward the northern side, one led toward the southern side, and two led toward the western side. I shall try to give the names of these different doors.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Understanding the Directions of the Gates

  1. 1

    The two eyes, two nostrils and mouth face forward. These five openings are described as the eastern gates.

  2. 2

    The purport connects the forward-facing gates with the east because the sun rises there.

  3. 3

    The northern and southern gates represent the two ears. The two western gates represent the rectum and genitals.

Key points from the purport
  • Of the seven doors on the surface — namely the two eyes, two ears, two nostrils and one mouth — five look forward, and these are described as the doors facing the eastern side.
  • The gate on the northern side and the gate on the southern side represent the two ears, and the two gates facing the western side represent the rectum and the genitals.
  • All the doors and gates are described below.

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. pañcafive
  2. dvāraḥdoors
  3. tuthen
  4. paurastyāḥfacing the eastern side
  5. dakṣiṇāsouthern
  6. ekāone
  7. tathāalso
  8. uttarāone toward the north
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.25

    In this verse: “king”

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

Can I connect each direction in the city with the bodily openings it represents?

Practice

Draw a simple map labeling the five eastern, one northern, one southern and two western gates.

5

The story around it

The stories this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayUnderstanding the Directions of the GatesThis 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 4.25.46? Get an answer from the verses themselves.