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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
4.26.184.26.20

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.26.19

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Nārada Munisince 4.26.18inside 5 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraNārada Muni → King PrācīnabarhiThe allegory of King Purañjana → Prācīnabarhi, as listener

सान्‍त्वयन् श्लक्ष्णया वाचा हृदयेन विदूयता ।

प्रेयस्या: स्‍नेहसंरम्भलिङ्गमात्मनि नाभ्यगात् ॥ १९ ॥

sāntvayan ślakṣṇayā vācā

hṛdayena vidūyatā

preyasyāḥ sneha-saṁrambha-

liṅgam ātmani nābhyagāt

Translation

The King, with aggrieved mind, began to speak to his wife with very pleasing words. Although he was filled with regret and tried to pacify her, he could not see any symptom of anger caused by love within the heart of his beloved wife.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Repentance Opens the Path of Deliverance

  1. 1

    Purañjana spoke pleasing words to his wife with a heart full of regret. He lamented leaving her to pursue sinful activities.

  2. 2

    Regretting sinful activities and the abandonment of Kṛṣṇa consciousness opens the path out of material bondage. Such regret marks a return to good intelligence.

  3. 3

    Without Kṛṣṇa consciousness and interest in self-realization, activities lead to defeat and misuse of human life. Returning to Kṛṣṇa consciousness brings recognition of past mistakes.

Key points from the purport
  • When a person regrets his sinful activities, the abandoning of Kṛṣṇa consciousness and good intelligence, his path of deliverance from the path of material clutches is opened.
  • When a person loses his Kṛṣṇa consciousness and loses interest in self-realization, he must engage in sinful activities.
  • Naturally one who comes to Kṛṣṇa consciousness regrets his previous sinful activities in the human form.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 4.26.19 quotesSB 5.5.5

As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (5.5.5), parābhavas tāvad abodha-jāto yāvan na jijñāsata ātma-tattvam.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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. sāntvayanpacifying
  2. ślakṣṇayāby sweet
  3. vācāwords
  4. hṛdayenawith a heart
  5. vidūyatāregretting very much
  6. preyasyāḥof his beloved
  7. snehafrom affection
  8. saṁrambhaof anger
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”

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 4.26

    In this verse: “love”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

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

Does my regret encourage me to return to Kṛṣṇa consciousness?

Practice

Acknowledge one past mistake honestly, then spend a few minutes in devotional service today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayRepentance Opens the Path of DeliveranceThis 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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