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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 27: Attack by Caṇḍavega on the City of King Purañjana; the Character of Kālakanyā
4.26.264.27.2

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.27.1

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Nārada Munisince 4.27.1inside 5 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraNārada Muni → King PrācīnabarhiThe allegory of King Purañjana → Prācīnabarhi, as listener

नारद उवाच

इत्थं पुरञ्जनं सध्र्यग्वशमानीय विभ्रमै: ।

पुरञ्जनी महाराज रेमे रमयती पतिम् ॥ १ ॥

nārada uvāca

itthaṁ purañjanaṁ sadhryag

vaśamānīya vibhramaiḥ

purañjanī mahārāja

reme ramayatī patim

Translation

The great sage Nārada continued: My dear King, after bewildering her husband in different ways and bringing him under her control, the wife of King Purañjana gave him all satisfaction and enjoyed sex life with him.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Make Family Life Support Devotional Service

  1. 1

    A systematic family life as enjoined in the Vedas is better than an irresponsible sinful life. Religious practices such as sacrifice, vows and charity can counteract sinful reactions and awaken original Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

  2. 2

    If husband and wife combine together in Kṛṣṇa consciousness and live peacefully, their family life can support spiritual advancement. Excessive sexual attachment, however, can make one forget life's duty and increase material bondage.

  3. 3

    Bhakti-yoga, or devotional service, raises one to the platform of goodness. Husband and wife can then use their intelligence together to progress toward spiritual realization.

Key points from the purport
  • However, if the husband becomes too much attracted to the wife due to sex, the position becomes very dangerous.
  • If a husband situated in the mode of goodness can control his wife, who is in passion and ignorance, the woman is benefited.
  • Otherwise, the husband, coming under the control of the wife, sacrifices his quality of goodness and becomes subservient to the qualities of passion and ignorance.

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 27: Attack by Caṇḍavega on the City of King Purañjana; the Character of Kālakanyā

Purañjana grows deeply attached to family while Caṇḍavega’s soldiers attack his city.

Back to this verse in chapter 4.27
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. nāradaḥ uvācaNārada said
  2. itthamthus
  3. purañjanamKing Purañjana
  4. sadhryakcompletely
  5. vaśamānīyabringing under her control
  6. vibhramaiḥby her charms
  7. purañjanīthe wife of King Purañjana
  8. mahā-rājaO King
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 4.27

    In this verse: “attachment”, “material”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 4.27

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “bhakti-yoga”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 4.27

    In this verse: “religious”, “duty”

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 your home life support spiritual advancement rather than deepen material attachment?

Practice

Set aside five minutes today for devotional service instead of an activity done only for sense enjoyment.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayMake Family Life Support Devotional ServiceThis 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 4.27.1? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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