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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 27: Attack by Caṇḍavega on the City of King Purañjana; the Character of Kālakanyā
4.27.114.27.13

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.27.12

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

युक्तेष्वेवं प्रमत्तस्य कुटुम्बासक्तचेतस: ।

आससाद स वै कालो योऽप्रिय: प्रिययोषिताम् ॥ १२ ॥

yukteṣv evaṁ pramattasya

kuṭumbāsakta-cetasaḥ

āsasāda sa vai kālo

yo ’priyaḥ priya-yoṣitām

Translation

Thus King Purañjana, being attached to fruitive activities [karma-kāṇḍīya] as well as kith and kin, and being obsessed with polluted consciousness, eventually arrived at that point not very much liked by those who are overly attached to material things.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Prepare for Aging Through the Lord’s Service

  1. 1

    Attached to fruitive activities and relatives, Purañjana eventually reached old age. This stage is unwelcome to those overly attached to material enjoyment.

  2. 2

    In old age the senses weaken, although desires for enjoyment may remain strong. Attempts to prolong life cannot prevent death from arriving.

  3. 3

    A saintly devotee serves the Lord both during this life and after death. For such a devotee, service to the Lord continues in either condition.

Key points from the purport
  • The sage next met a saintly person and said to him, “You may either live or die.”
  • Generally a prince has enough money to enjoy his senses; therefore the great sage said that he should live forever, for as long as he lived he could enjoy life, but after his death he would go to hell.
  • A saintly person may either live or die, for during his life he is engaged in serving the Lord and after his death he also serves the Lord.

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. yukteṣuto beneficial activities
  2. evamthus
  3. pramattasyabeing inattentive
  4. kuṭumbato kith and kin
  5. āsaktaattached
  6. cetasaḥconsciousness
  7. āsasādaarrived
  8. saḥthat
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: “attached”, “material”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.27

    In this verse: “king”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    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

What am I cultivating now that will help me value the Lord’s service more than bodily enjoyment?

Practice

Set aside five minutes today for serving the Lord rather than pursuing a sense pleasure.

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.

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

Live this todayPrepare for Aging Through the Lord’s 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 4.27.12? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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