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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
4.26.214.26.23

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.26.22

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

परमोऽनुग्रहो दण्डो भृत्येषु प्रभुणार्पित: ।

बालो न वेद तत्तन्वि बन्धुकृत्यममर्षण: ॥ २२ ॥

paramo ’nugraho daṇḍo

bhṛtyeṣu prabhuṇārpitaḥ

bālo na veda tat tanvi

bandhu-kṛtyam amarṣaṇaḥ

Translation

My dear slender maiden, when a master chastises his servant, the servant should accept this as great mercy. One who becomes angry must be very foolish not to know that such is the duty of his friend.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Receive Helpful Correction Without Anger

  1. 1

    The translation presents a master's chastisement of a servant as mercy and the duty of a friend.

  2. 2

    The purport explains that a foolish person may become angry even when given very good instruction. Instead of correcting himself, he rejects the help.

  3. 3

    Such anger is compared to a serpent whose poison increases when it is fed nourishing food. Good instruction benefits us when we accept it and rectify ourselves.

Key points from the purport
  • It is said that when a foolish man is instructed in something very nice, he generally cannot accept it.
  • Such anger is compared to the poison of a serpent, for when a serpent is fed milk and bananas, its poison actually increases.
  • Similarly, when a fool is instructed, he does not rectify himself but actually becomes angry.

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. paramaḥsupreme
  2. anugrahaḥmercy
  3. daṇḍaḥpunishment
  4. bhṛtyeṣuupon the servants
  5. prabhuṇāby the master
  6. arpitaḥawarded
  7. bālaḥfoolish
  8. nadoes not
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

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 4.26

    In this verse: “duty”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 4.26

    In this verse: “friend”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 4.26

    In this verse: “mercy”

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

When someone gives me helpful correction, do I consider it carefully or immediately become angry?

Practice

Recall one helpful correction you have received, and make one small change in response.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayReceive Helpful Correction Without AngerThis 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 4.26.22? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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