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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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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 27: Attack by Caṇḍavega on the City of King Purañjana; the Character of Kālakanyā
4.27.104.27.12

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.27.11

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Nārada Munisince 4.27.11inside 5 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraNārada Muni → King PrācīnabarhiThe allegory of King Purañjana → Prācīnabarhi, as listener

ईजे च क्रतुभिर्घोरैर्दीक्षित: पशुमारकै: ।

देवान् पितृन् भूतपतीन्नानाकामो यथा भवान् ॥ ११ ॥

īje ca kratubhir ghorair

dīkṣitaḥ paśu-mārakaiḥ

devān pitṝn bhūta-patīn

nānā-kāmo yathā bhavān

Translation

The great sage Nārada continued: My dear King Prācīnabarhiṣat, like you King Purañjana also became implicated in so many desires. Thus he worshiped demigods, forefathers and social leaders with various sacrifices which were all very ghastly because they were inspired by the desire to kill animals.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

True Religion Leads to Devotion, Not Killing

  1. 1

    Nārada described Purañjana’s life to instruct King Prācīnabarhiṣat and stop animal-killing in sacrifices. By saying “like you,” he began revealing the lesson’s direct application to the King.

  2. 2

    Material desires lead to many-branched activities, while those with spiritual knowledge are determined to execute Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Animal-killing in religion entangles people in birth and death and obscures the goal of returning to Godhead.

  3. 3

    Neither the Supreme Personality of Godhead nor His devotee sanctions animal-killing in the name of religion. The conclusion is direct devotional service and surrender to Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Key points from the purport
  • In this verse the great sage Nārada discloses that the character of Purañjana was being described to give lessons to King Prācīnabarhiṣat.
  • Being a great Vaiṣṇava, Nārada Muni wanted to stop animal-killing in sacrifices.
  • A Vaiṣṇava ācārya like Nārada Muni knows very well that persons engaged in such animal-killing in the name of religion are certainly becoming involved in the cycle of birth and death, forgetting the real aim of life: to go home, back to Godhead.

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· 3

The purport of SB 4.27.11 quotesBG 2.41

These activities are described in the Bhagavad-gītā (2.41): “Those who are on the spiritual path are resolute in purpose, and their aim is one.

The purport of SB 4.27.11 quotesSB 1.5.15

Because they are guided under your instructions, they will accept such activities in the name of religion and will hardly care for prohibitions.”

The purport of SB 4.27.11 quotesBG 18.31

Animal sacrifice under the name of religion is conducted by the influence of tamo-guṇa (the mode of ignorance), as indicated in the Eighteenth Chapter of Bhagavad-gītā (18.31-32):

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 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. ījehe worshiped
  2. caalso
  3. kratubhiḥby sacrifices
  4. ghoraiḥghastly
  5. dīkṣitaḥinspired
  6. paśu-mārakaiḥwherein poor animals are killed
  7. devānthe demigods
  8. pitṝnforefathers
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “worshiped”, “devotional service”, “devotee”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.27

    In this verse: “king”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    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

Are my religious efforts helping me surrender to Kṛṣṇa, or mainly serving my material desires?

Practice

Choose a meal without meat today, remembering the teaching against animal-killing.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

The purport quotesSB 1.5.15

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 4.27's connections

Live this todayTrue Religion Leads to Devotion, Not KillingThis 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 4.27.11? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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