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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
4.27.294.28.1

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.27.30

Nirodha· Winding up
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The King of the Yavanassince 4.27.30inside 5 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraNārada Muni → King PrācīnabarhiThe allegory of King Purañjana → Prācīnabarhi, as listener

प्रज्वारोऽयं मम भ्राता त्वं च मे भगिनी भव ।

चराम्युभाभ्यां लोकेऽस्मिन्नव्यक्तो भीमसैनिक: ॥ ३० ॥

prajvāro ’yaṁ mama bhrātā

tvaṁ ca me bhaginī bhava

carāmy ubhābhyāṁ loke ’sminn

avyakto bhīma-sainikaḥ

Translation

The King of the Yavanas continued: Here is my brother Prajvāra. I now accept you as my sister. I shall employ both of you, as well as my dangerous soldiers, to act imperceptibly within this world.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Follow a Pure Vaiṣṇava Beyond Material Decline

  1. 1

    Yavana-rāja accepted Kālakanyā as his sister rather than his wife. Although he outwardly respected Nārada Muni’s request, the purport says he still harbored thoughts of illicit sex.

  2. 2

    Prajvāra means “the fever sent by Lord Viṣṇu,” while Kālakanyā represents invalidity. Together with Yavana-rāja’s soldiers, they would smash the materialistic way of life.

  3. 3

    Nārada Muni was immune to jarā, the destructive force of old age. The purport extends this spiritual protection to followers of Nārada Muni or another pure Vaiṣṇava.

Key points from the purport
  • Kālakanyā was sent by Nārada Muni to Yavana-rāja so that she might become his wife, but instead of accepting her as his wife, Yavana-rāja accepted her as his sister.
  • Thus the King of the mlecchas and yavanas requested the daughter of Time, Kālakanyā, to become his sister.
  • Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Fourth Canto, Twenty-seventh Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “Attack by Caṇḍavega on the City of King Purañjana; the Character of Kālakanyā.”

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. prajvāraḥnamed Prajvāra
  2. ayamthis
  3. mamamy
  4. bhrātābrother
  5. tvamyou
  6. caalso
  7. memy
  8. bhaginīsister
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

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 4.27

    In this verse: “dangerous”

  • 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: “materialistic”

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 my respect for spiritual guidance reflected in my conduct, or only in outward gestures?

Practice

Choose one instruction from a pure Vaiṣṇava that you have studied and put it into practice today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayFollow a Pure Vaiṣṇava Beyond Material DeclineThis 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 4.27.30? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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