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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
4.26.114.26.13

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.26.12

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

आत्मानमर्हयां चक्रे धूपालेपस्रगादिभि: ।

साध्वलङ्कृतसर्वाङ्गो महिष्यामादधे मन: ॥ १२ ॥

ātmānam arhayāṁ cakre

dhūpālepa-srag-ādibhiḥ

sādhv-alaṅkṛta-sarvāṅgo

mahiṣyām ādadhe manaḥ

Translation

After this, King Purañjana decorated his body with suitable ornaments. He also smeared scented sandalwood pulp over his body and put on flower garlands. In this way he became completely refreshed. After this, he began to search out his Queen.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Saintly Guidance Revives Kṛṣṇa Consciousness

  1. 1

    Hearing Vedic instructions from a saintly spiritual master refreshes the mind. The King’s ornaments and scented sandalwood pulp represent knowledge of religion and the self.

  2. 2

    Such knowledge helps one become detached from materialistic life and regularly hear Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, Bhagavad-gītā and other Vedic literature. One should become absorbed in the instructions of saintly persons.

  3. 3

    The King’s search for his Queen represents searching for original Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Returning to that consciousness requires the guidance of sādhu, śāstra and guru: saintly persons, authoritative scripture and a bona fide spiritual master.

Key points from the purport
  • In this way a man becomes refreshed in mind, exactly like a person who smears scented sandalwood pulp all over his body and decorates himself with ornaments.
  • Just as King Purañjana began to search out his better half, the Queen, one who is decorated with knowledge and instructions from saintly persons should try to search out his original consciousness, Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
  • One cannot return to Kṛṣṇa consciousness unless he is favored by the instructions of a saintly person.

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. ātmānamhimself
  2. arhayāmas it ought to be done
  3. cakredid
  4. dhūpaincense
  5. ālepasmearing the body with sandalwood pulp
  6. srakgarlands
  7. ādibhiḥbeginning with
  8. sādhusaintly, beautifully
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 4.26

    In this verse: “king”, “king’s”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 4.26

    In this verse: “materialistic”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 4.26

    In this verse: “detached”

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 I give saintly instructions a more regular place in my life?

Practice

Spend five minutes reading or hearing Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with Śrīla Prabhupāda’s purport, and write down one instruction to remember.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySaintly Guidance Revives Kṛṣṇa ConsciousnessThis 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 4.26.12? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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