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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
4.26.204.26.22

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.26.21

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:King Purañjanasince 4.26.21inside 5 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraNārada Muni → King PrācīnabarhiThe allegory of King Purañjana → Prācīnabarhi, as listener

पुरञ्जन उवाच

नूनं त्वकृतपुण्यास्ते भृत्या येष्वीश्वरा: शुभे ।

कृताग:स्वात्मसात्कृत्वा शिक्षादण्डं न युञ्जते ॥ २१ ॥

purañjana uvāca

nūnaṁ tv akṛta-puṇyās te

bhṛtyā yeṣv īśvarāḥ śubhe

kṛtāgaḥsv ātmasāt kṛtvā

śikṣā-daṇḍaṁ na yuñjate

Translation

King Purañjana said: My dear beautiful wife, when a master accepts a servant as his own man, but does not punish him for his offenses, the servant must be considered unfortunate.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Receive Correction with Humility

  1. 1

    Purañjana accepted his Queen’s displeasure as love and mercy. The purport distinguishes correction meant to help from punishment motivated by vengeance.

  2. 2

    A devotee accepts reversals in life as the Supreme Lord’s mercy, considering the consequences of past misdeeds to have been made mild. He responds with further prayers and obeisances.

  3. 3

    Correction is beneficial when it helps a person avoid repeating a mistake. Accepting it with humility is a sign of intelligence.

Key points from the purport
  • Thus King Purañjana took his punishment dealt by his wife, the Queen, as mercy upon him.
  • King Purañjana accepted the punishment as actual love and affection from his wife.
  • If one accepts punishment as a reward dealt by the master, he becomes intelligent enough not to commit the same mistake again.

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 4.26.21 quotesSB 10.14.8

jīveta yo mukti-pade sa dāya-bhāk. This verse states that the devotee accepts a reversal of his position in life as a benediction by the Lord and consequently offers the Lord more obeisances and prayers, thinking that the punishment is due to his past misdeeds and that the Lord is punishing him very mildly.

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. purañjanaḥ uvācaPurañjana said
  2. nūnamcertainly
  3. tuthen
  4. akṛta-puṇyāḥthose who are not pious
  5. tesuch
  6. bhṛtyāḥservants
  7. yeṣuunto whom
  8. īśvarāḥthe masters
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 4.26

    In this verse: “offenses”, “humility”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.26

    In this verse: “king”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 4.26

    In this verse: “devotee”

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 respond to correction with humility rather than resentment?

Practice

Recall one correction you have received and choose one concrete step to avoid repeating that mistake.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayReceive Correction with HumilityThis 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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