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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
4.27.194.27.21

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.27.20

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

दौर्भाग्येनात्मनो लोके विश्रुता दुर्भगेति सा ।

या तुष्टा राजर्षये तु वृतादात्पूरवे वरम् ॥ २० ॥

daurbhāgyenātmano loke

viśrutā durbhageti sā

yā tuṣṭā rājarṣaye tu

vṛtādāt pūrave varam

Translation

The daughter of Time [Jarā] was very unfortunate. Consequently she was known as Durbhagā [“ill-fated”]. However, she was once pleased with a great king, and because the king accepted her, she granted him a great benediction.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Begin Kṛṣṇa Consciousness Before Old Age

  1. 1

    Jarā is called Durbhagā, or ill-fated, because no one welcomes old age. Material happiness disappears as the body loses its ability to enjoy.

  2. 2

    Pūru accepted his father Yayāti's old age and received the kingdom. Yet having sacrificed his youth, he could not enjoy its opulence.

  3. 3

    Wealth cannot overcome the invalidity of old age. The purport therefore urges us not to wait until old age to become Kṛṣṇa conscious.

Key points from the purport
  • Thus Jarā, as the daughter of Time, is known as a most unfortunate daughter.
  • She was, however, at one time accepted by a great king, Yayāti.
  • Later King Yayāti became very much attached to Śarmiṣṭhā, and Śukrācārya’s daughter complained to her father.

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. daurbhāgyenaon account of misfortune
  2. ātmanaḥof herself
  3. lokein the world
  4. viśrutācelebrated
  5. durbhagāmost unfortunate
  6. itithus
  7. sāshe
  8. yāwho
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.27

    In this verse: “king”, “kingdom”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “wealth”, “material”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 4.27

    In this verse: “father”

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 putting ahead of Kṛṣṇa consciousness while assuming I will have time later?

Practice

Give five minutes today to Kṛṣṇa consciousness instead of postponing it until your circumstances seem better.

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 todayBegin Kṛṣṇa Consciousness Before Old AgeThis 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 4.27.20? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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