1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

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

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 4 · The Creation of the Fourth Order · 31 chapters

12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
4.27.254.27.27

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.27.26

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Kālakanyāsince 4.27.26inside 5 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraNārada Muni → King PrācīnabarhiThe allegory of King Purañjana → Prācīnabarhi, as listener

अथो भजस्व मां भद्र भजन्तीं मे दयां कुरु ।

एतावान् पौरुषो धर्मो यदार्ताननुकम्पते ॥ २६ ॥

atho bhajasva māṁ bhadra

bhajantīṁ me dayāṁ kuru

etāvān pauruṣo dharmo

yad ārtān anukampate

Translation

Kālakanyā continued: O gentle one, I am now present before you to serve you. Please accept me and thus show me mercy. It is a gentleman’s greatest duty to be compassionate upon a person who is distressed.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotional Service Is Open to Everyone

  1. 1

    Kālakanyā asks for mercy and says that compassion toward a distressed person is a gentleman’s greatest duty.

  2. 2

    Yavana-rāja considered her request out of regard for Nārada Muni’s order. The purport explains that anyone within the three worlds can accept the path of devotional service.

  3. 3

    Lord Caitanya requested that bhakti-yoga be preached in every village and town. Following the disciplic succession brings benefit to people throughout the world.

Key points from the purport
  • Yavana-rāja, the King of the Yavanas, could also refuse to accept Kālakanyā, daughter of Time, but he considered the request due to the order of Nārada Muni.
  • Thus he accepted Kālakanyā in a different way.
  • Preachers in the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement have actually experienced that even the yavanas and mlecchas have taken to spiritual life on the strength of Nārada Muni’s pāñcarātrika-vidhi.

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. athotherefore
  2. bhajasvaaccept
  3. māmme
  4. bhadraO gentle one
  5. bhajantīmwilling to serve
  6. meto me
  7. dayāmmercy
  8. kurudo
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 4.27

    In this verse: “compassionate”, “distressed”, “compassion”

  • 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: “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

Do I see devotional service as an opportunity open to everyone?

Practice

Share one encouraging teaching about devotional service with someone willing to hear it.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotional Service Is Open to EveryoneThis 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 4.27.26? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories