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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 26: King Purañjana Goes to the Forest to Hunt, and His Queen Becomes Angry
4.26.94.26.11

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.26.10

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Nārada Munisince 4.26.7inside 5 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraNārada Muni → King PrācīnabarhiThe allegory of King Purañjana → Prācīnabarhi, as listener

शशान् वराहान् महिषान् गवयान् रुरुशल्यकान् ।

मेध्यानन्यांश्च विविधान् विनिघ्नन् श्रममध्यगात् ॥ १० ॥

śaśān varāhān mahiṣān

gavayān ruru-śalyakān

medhyān anyāṁś ca vividhān

vinighnan śramam adhyagāt

Translation

In this way King Purañjana killed many animals, including rabbits, boars, buffalo, bison, black deer, porcupines and other game animals. After killing and killing, the King became very tired.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Leave Sinful Activities Through Spiritual Knowledge

  1. 1

    Ignorance leads a person to sinful activities, whose result is suffering. The laws of nature act even when someone does not understand them, just as fire burns an unknowing child.

  2. 2

    Association with a saintly person helps one understand these laws and begin religious life. This requires abandoning illicit sex life, meat-eating, gambling and intoxication.

  3. 3

    Even a very sinful person can receive knowledge from a bona fide spiritual master, repent and stop sinful activities. By following spiritual guidance and taking up Kṛṣṇa consciousness, one can return home, back to Godhead.

Key points from the purport
  • A person in the mode of ignorance commits many sinful activities.
  • The conclusion is that killers should retire from the killing business and take to this Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement to make life perfect.
  • Therefore the perfect course is to retire altogether from sinful activities and take up 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.

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 26: King Purañjana Goes to the Forest to Hunt, and His Queen Becomes Angry

Purañjana kills innocent animals while hunting, then returns and tries to soothe his distressed queen.

Back to this verse in chapter 4.26
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śaśānrabbits
  2. varāhānboars
  3. mahiṣānbuffalo
  4. gavayānbison
  5. rurublack deer
  6. śalyakānporcupines
  7. medhyāngame animals
  8. anyānothers
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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 4.26

    In this verse: “knowledge”, “understand”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.26

    In this verse: “king”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 4.26

    In this verse: “suffering”

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

What harmful habit do I need to stop rather than excuse through lack of knowledge?

Practice

Review the four prohibited activities named here and choose one concrete step today to keep your conduct free from them.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayLeave Sinful Activities Through Spiritual KnowledgeThis 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 4.26.10? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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