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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
4.25.554.25.57-61

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.25.56

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Nārada Munisince 4.25.43inside 5 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraNārada Muni → King PrācīnabarhiThe allegory of King Purañjana → Prācīnabarhi, as listener

एवं कर्मसु संसक्त: कामात्मा वञ्चितोऽबुध: ।

महिषी यद्यदीहेत तत्तदेवान्ववर्तत ॥ ५६ ॥

evaṁ karmasu saṁsaktaḥ

kāmātmā vañcito ’budhaḥ

mahiṣī yad yad īheta

tat tad evānvavartata

Translation

Being thus entangled in different types of mental concoction and engaged in fruitive activities, King Purañjana came completely under the control of material intelligence and was thus cheated. Indeed, he used to fulfill all the desires of his wife, the Queen.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Material Intelligence Deepens Entanglement

  1. 1

    Purañjana comes under the control of the Queen, who represents material intelligence. Bewildered, he acts according to her desires and is thus cheated.

  2. 2

    The purport describes the pressure to satisfy one’s wife for peace and social convenience. In the allegory, this illustrates increasing obedience to material intelligence.

  3. 3

    Within the heart, the mind keeps thinking, feeling and willing. Following its mental concoctions entangles the living entity in more and more activities.

Key points from the purport
  • When a living entity is in such bewilderment that he is under the control of his wife, or material intelligence, he has to satisfy the intelligence of his so-called wife and act exactly according to her dictates.
  • Within the heart, the mind is acting, thinking, feeling and willing, and falling under the control of one’s wife is the same as falling under the control of material intelligence.
  • Thus one begets children by his wife and becomes entangled in so many activities under the control of mental concoctions.

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. evamthus
  2. karmasuin fruitive activities
  3. saṁsaktaḥbeing too much attached
  4. kāma-ātmālusty
  5. vañcitaḥcheated
  6. abudhaḥless intelligent
  7. mahiṣīthe Queen
  8. yat yatwhatsoever
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: “material”

  • 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

Which desire am I following without considering how it may deepen my entanglement?

Practice

Before acting on one material desire today, pause and write down what further demands it may create.

5

The story around it

The stories this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayMaterial Intelligence Deepens EntanglementThis 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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