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
4.27.74.27.9

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.27.8

Visarga· Brahmā's creation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Nārada Munisince 4.27.6inside 5 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraNārada Muni → King PrācīnabarhiThe allegory of King Purañjana → Prācīnabarhi, as listener

स पञ्चालपति: पुत्रान् पितृवंशविवर्धनान् ।

दारै: संयोजयामास दुहितृ: सद‍ृशैर्वरै: ॥ ८ ॥

sa pañcāla-patiḥ putrān

pitṛ-vaṁśa-vivardhanān

dāraiḥ saṁyojayām āsa

duhitṝḥ sadṛśair varaiḥ

Translation

After this, King Purañjana, King of the Pañcāla country, in order to increase the descendants of his paternal family, married his sons with qualified wives and married his daughters with qualified husbands.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Marriage Carries Family and Religious Responsibilities

  1. 1

    Purañjana arranged qualified spouses for both his sons and daughters to increase his family’s descendants.

  2. 2

    The purport describes arranging children’s marriages as a parental duty in Vedic society. This organization is intended to restrain sexual relations outside marriage.

  3. 3

    Family responsibilities also include offerings for the forefathers. Oblations offered in the name of Lord Viṣṇu are called piṇḍodaka and are meant to make the forefathers happy.

Key points from the purport
  • Not only was Purañjana, the King of Pañcāla, satisfied in his own sex life, but he arranged for the sex life of his 1,100 sons and 110 daughters.
  • It is significant in this verse that Purañjana got both sons and daughters married.
  • Sons and daughters should not be allowed freedom to intermingle with the opposite sex unless they are married.

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. saḥhe
  2. pañcāla-patiḥthe King of Pañcāla
  3. putrānsons
  4. pitṛ-vaṁśapaternal family
  5. vivardhanānincreasing
  6. dāraiḥwith wives
  7. saṁyojayām āsamarried
  8. duhitṝḥdaughters
  9. sadṛśaiḥqualified
  10. varaiḥwith husbands
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Visarga · Subcreation

    How do living beings and their worlds appear? · Subject 2 of 10

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.27

    In this verse: “king”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

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

    In this verse: “children’s”, “parental”

  • 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

How does this teaching invite me to see family life as responsibility rather than enjoyment alone?

Practice

Write down one family responsibility you can fulfill today, and take a small step toward fulfilling it.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayMarriage Carries Family and Religious ResponsibilitiesThis 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 4.27.8? 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