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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.
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Canto 4 · Chapter 26: King Purañjana Goes to the Forest to Hunt, and His Queen Becomes Angry
4.26.44.26.6

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.26.5

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Nārada Munisince 4.26.1-3inside 5 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraNārada Muni → King PrācīnabarhiThe allegory of King Purañjana → Prācīnabarhi, as listener

आसुरीं वृत्तिमाश्रित्य घोरात्मा निरनुग्रह: ।

न्यहनन्निशितैर्बाणैर्वनेषु वनगोचरान् ॥ ५ ॥

āsurīṁ vṛttim āśritya

ghorātmā niranugrahaḥ

nyahanan niśitair bāṇair

vaneṣu vana-gocarān

Translation

At that time King Purañjana was very much influenced by demoniac propensities. Because of this, his heart became very hard and merciless, and with sharp arrows he killed many innocent animals in the forest, taking no consideration.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Reject Cruelty and Cultivate Mercy

  1. 1

    Pride in material position leads to unrestricted sense enjoyment under passion and ignorance. Such a mentality makes the heart hard and merciless toward animals.

  2. 2

    The purport describes cruel violence among people as a reaction to unrestricted animal-killing. Proud people disregard the laws of nature, or the laws of God.

  3. 3

    Animal-killing is completely prohibited in the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement. Its students promise to follow four regulative principles: no animal-killing, no intoxication, no illicit sex and no gambling.

Key points from the purport
  • When people are demoniac in spirit, they are not merciful toward the poor animals.
  • In Kali-yuga, due to the increase of the modes of passion and ignorance, almost all men are asuric, or demoniac; therefore they are very much fond of eating flesh, and for this end they maintain various kinds of animal slaughterhouses.
  • Men do not understand that because they unrestrictedly kill so many animals, they also must be slaughtered like animals in big wars.

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. āsurīmdemoniac
  2. vṛttimoccupation
  3. āśrityataken shelter of
  4. ghorahorrible
  5. ātmāconsciousness, heart
  6. niranugrahaḥwithout mercy
  7. nyahanatkilled
  8. niśitaiḥby sharp
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

  • Dainya · Humility

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

    In this verse: “pride”, “proud”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.26

    In this verse: “king”

  • 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

How do my choices about enjoyment affect my mercy toward animals?

Practice

Choose a meal without meat or fish today as one concrete step away from supporting animal-killing.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayReject Cruelty and Cultivate MercyThis 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 4.26.5? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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