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 26: King Purañjana Goes to the Forest to Hunt, and His Queen Becomes Angry
4.26.164.26.18

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.26.17

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:All the womensince 4.26.17inside 5 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraNārada Muni → King PrācīnabarhiThe allegory of King Purañjana → Prācīnabarhi, as listener

रामा ऊचु:

नरनाथ न जानीमस्त्वत्प्रिया यद्वय‍वस्यति ।

भूतले निरवस्तारे शयानां पश्य शत्रुहन् ॥ १७ ॥

rāmā ūcuḥ

nara-nātha na jānīmas

tvat-priyā yad vyavasyati

bhūtale niravastāre

śayānāṁ paśya śatru-han

Translation

All the women addressed the King: O master of the citizens, we do not know why your dear wife has taken on this sort of existence. O killer of enemies, kindly look! She is lying on the ground without bedding. We cannot understand why she is acting this way.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Care and Devotion Belong at Home

  1. 1

    Purañjana neglected his wife and went out to kill animals. The purport connects neglect of devotional service with sinful activities and lost good intelligence.

  2. 2

    A wife should not be treated merely as an instrument for sense enjoyment. The husband should keep her beloved and protected.

  3. 3

    The wife is called ardhāṅganī, or half of the body. Husband and wife should live together with their home centered on devotional service.

Key points from the purport
  • The wife of King Purañjana was lying on the ground because she was neglected by her husband.
  • Just as intelligence is always within the heart, so a beloved chaste wife should always have her place on the chest of a good husband.
  • Similarly, according to nature’s way, husband and wife should live together.

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. rāmāḥ ūcuḥthe women thus spoke
  2. nara-nāthaO King
  3. na jānīmaḥwe do not know
  4. tvat-priyāyour beloved
  5. yat vyavasyatiwhy she has taken to this sort of life
  6. bhū-taleon the ground
  7. niravastārewithout bedding
  8. śayānāmlying down
  9. paśyalook
  10. śatru-hanO killer of enemies
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”, “citizens”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “understand”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

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

    In this verse: “kindly”

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

Am I caring for those at home, or neglecting them while pursuing my own enjoyment?

Practice

Give someone at home a few minutes of attentive care today instead of pursuing your own enjoyment.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayCare and Devotion Belong at HomeThis 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 4.26.17? 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