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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
4.27.24.27.4

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.27.3

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Nārada Munisince 4.27.1inside 5 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraNārada Muni → King PrācīnabarhiThe allegory of King Purañjana → Prācīnabarhi, as listener

तयोपगूढ: परिरब्धकन्धरो

रहोऽनुमन्त्रैरपकृष्टचेतन: ।

न

कालरंहो बुबुधे दुरत्ययं

दिवा निशेति प्रमदापरिग्रह: ॥ ३ ॥

tayopagūḍhaḥ parirabdha-kandharo

raho ’numantrair apakṛṣṭa-cetanaḥ

na kāla-raṁho bubudhe duratyayaṁ

divā niśeti pramadā-parigrahaḥ

Translation

Queen Purañjanī embraced the King, and the King also responded by embracing her shoulders. In this way, in a solitary place, they enjoyed joking words. Thus King Purañjana became very much captivated by his beautiful wife and deviated from his good sense. He forgot that the passing of days and nights meant that his span of life was being reduced without profit.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Use Each Moment to Understand Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    Captivated by his wife, King Purañjana forgot that each passing day and night reduced his life span. Excessive attachment to family enjoyment can make one neglect the duty of human life.

  2. 2

    Human consciousness should be used to rise to Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Even millions of dollars cannot buy back a single second of life.

  3. 3

    The greatest loss is passing time without understanding Kṛṣṇa. The proper use of life is to increase devotional service to the Lord; even perfectly performed duties are wasted labor if they bring no spiritual progress.

Key points from the purport
  • Thus day after day the span of one’s life is reduced, and forgetting the duty of human life, the foolish man simply remains in the company of his wife and enjoys her in a secluded place.
  • But when a person is too much attracted to his wife and family affairs, he does not take Kṛṣṇa consciousness very seriously.
  • If after performing one’s occupational duty very perfectly one does not make progress in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, it should be understood that he has simply wasted his time in valueless labor.

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 4.27.3 quotesSB 1.2.8

As confirmed in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.2.8): If after performing one’s occupational duty very perfectly one does not make progress in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, it should be understood that he has simply wasted his time in valueless labor.

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. tayāby the Queen
  2. upagūḍhaḥwas embraced
  3. parirabdhaembraced
  4. kandharaḥshoulders
  5. rahaḥin a solitary place
  6. anumantraiḥby joking words
  7. apakṛṣṭa-cetanaḥhaving degraded consciousness
  8. nanot
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

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 4.27

    In this verse: “duty”, “duties”

  • 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: “attachment”

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

Is the way you spend your time helping you increase devotional service?

Practice

Use five minutes today to study this verse rather than postponing your spiritual learning.

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 1.2.8

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

Live this todayUse Each Moment to Understand KṛṣṇaThis 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 4.27.3? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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