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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
4.27.44.27.6

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.27.5

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

तयैवं रममाणस्य कामकश्मलचेतस: ।

क्षणार्धमिव राजेन्द्र व्यतिक्रान्तं नवं वय: ॥ ५ ॥

tayaivaṁ ramamāṇasya

kāma-kaśmala-cetasaḥ

kṣaṇārdham iva rājendra

vyatikrāntaṁ navaṁ vayaḥ

Translation

My dear King Prācīnabarhiṣat, in this way King Purañjana, with his heart full of lust and sinful reactions, began to enjoy sex with his wife, and in this way his new life and youth expired in half a moment.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Turn Fleeting Enjoyment Toward Kṛṣṇa Consciousness

  1. 1

    Purañjana's youth passed as though in half a moment while his heart was absorbed in lust. Youthful sense enjoyment ends quickly, leaving disappointment when there is no spiritual knowledge.

  2. 2

    Human life is not meant for unrestricted sense enjoyment. Scriptural restraints are intended to keep people from sinful activities and a life centered only on the body.

  3. 3

    Our real function is to change from sinful consciousness to consciousness of Kṛṣṇa, the supreme pure. Turning our consciousness from material enjoyment to Kṛṣṇa purifies us and cleanses the mirror of the heart.

Key points from the purport
  • In youth a person becomes very lusty to enjoy all kinds of sense objects.
  • One who wastes his life simply by committing sinful activities in youth immediately becomes disappointed and disillusioned when the brief period of youth is over.
  • Kāma-kaśmala-cetasaḥ also indicates that unrestricted sense enjoyment is not allowed in the human form of life by the laws of nature.

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tayāwith her
  2. evamin this way
  3. ramamāṇasyaenjoying
  4. kāmafull of lust
  5. kaśmalasinful
  6. cetasaḥhis heart
  7. kṣaṇa-ardhamin half a moment
  8. ivalike
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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

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 4.27

    In this verse: “sinful”, “purifies”, “cleanses”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “lust”, “material”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.27

    In this verse: “king”

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 could you turn your attention from temporary sense enjoyment toward Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

When one desire for sense enjoyment arises today, pause and spend a minute remembering Kṛṣṇa, the supreme pure.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayTurn Fleeting Enjoyment Toward Kṛṣṇa ConsciousnessThis 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 4.27.5? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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