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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
4.27.154.27.17

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.27.16

Nirodha· Winding up
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

स सप्तभि: शतैरेको विंशत्या च शतं समा: ।

पुरञ्जनपुराध्यक्षो गन्धर्वैर्युयुधे बली ॥ १६ ॥

sa saptabhiḥ śatair eko

viṁśatyā ca śataṁ samāḥ

purañjana-purādhyakṣo

gandharvair yuyudhe balī

Translation

The five-hooded serpent, the superintendent and protector of the city of King Purañjana, fought with the Gandharvas for one hundred years. He fought alone, with all of them, although they numbered 720.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Soul Survives the Struggle for Existence

  1. 1

    The 360 days and 360 nights form Caṇḍavega's 720 soldiers. Fighting them from birth until death is called the struggle for existence.

  2. 2

    The living entity is eternal and is not slain when the body is slain. Birth and death do not belong to the soul itself.

  3. 3

    Throughout bodily life, the living entity faces the stringent laws of material nature and many miserable conditions. Yet illusion makes one think oneself well situated in sense gratification.

Key points from the purport
  • Despite this struggle, however, the living entity does not die.
  • Actually the living entity does not take birth nor does he die, but he has to fight with the stringent laws of material nature throughout the entire span of his lifetime.
  • Despite all this, the living entity, due to illusion, thinks that he is well situated in sense gratification.

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· 1

The purport of SB 4.27.16 quotesBG 2.20

As confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (2.20), the living entity is eternal: “For the soul there is never birth nor death.

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. saḥhe
  2. saptabhiḥwith seven
  3. śataiḥhundred
  4. ekaḥalone
  5. viṁśatyāwith twenty
  6. caalso
  7. śatamhundred
  8. samāḥyears
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Nirodha · Returning home, back to Godhead

    What happens when everything here comes to an end? · Subject 8 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “illusion”, “sense gratification”, “material”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.27

    In this verse: “king”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 4.27

    In this verse: “protector”

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

Where do I mistake temporary sense pleasure for security amid life's struggles?

Practice

Reflect for one minute on the purport's teaching: the soul does not die when the body dies.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Soul Survives the Struggle for ExistenceThis 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 4.27.16? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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