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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 28: Purañjana Becomes a Woman in the Next Life
4.28.114.28.13

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.28.12

Nirodha· Winding up
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Nārada Munisince 4.28.1inside 5 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraNārada Muni → King PrācīnabarhiThe allegory of King Purañjana → Prācīnabarhi, as listener

तस्यां सन्दह्यमानायां सपौर: सपरिच्छद: ।

कौटुम्बिक: कुटुम्बिन्या उपातप्यत सान्वय: ॥ १२ ॥

tasyāṁ sandahyamānāyāṁ

sapauraḥ saparicchadaḥ

kauṭumbikaḥ kuṭumbinyā

upātapyata sānvayaḥ

Translation

When the city was set ablaze, all the citizens and servants of the King, as well as all family members, sons, grandsons, wives and other relatives, were within the fire. King Purañjana thus became very unhappy.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Material Progress Cannot Remove Death

  1. 1

    The citizens, relatives and dependents figuratively represent the senses, limbs and other parts of the body. All suffer when the bodily city burns.

  2. 2

    At death the living entity becomes helpless and is forced to leave the body, even when unwilling. Severe bodily suffering may bring unconsciousness.

  3. 3

    Scientific advancement may improve temporary living conditions, but it cannot remove birth, old age, disease and death. These remain under the Supreme Personality of Godhead's control through material nature.

Key points from the purport
  • There are many parts of the body — the senses, the limbs, the skin, the muscles, blood, marrow, etc. — and all these are considered here figuratively as sons, grandsons, citizens and dependents.
  • Indeed, the living entity becomes so helpless at the time of death that, although unwilling, he is forced to give up the body and enter another.
  • Thus a person in ignorance, not knowing anything about his own future life, is certainly defeated in all his activities.

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 28: Purañjana Becomes a Woman in the Next Life

Purañjana’s city falls; he becomes a woman, and a brāhmaṇa recalls the soul’s forgotten spiritual friendship.

Back to this verse in chapter 4.28
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tasyāmwhen that city
  2. sandahyamānāyāmwas ablaze
  3. sa-pauraḥalong with all the citizens
  4. sa-paricchadaḥalong with all servants and followers
  5. kauṭumbikaḥthe King, having so many relatives
  6. kuṭumbinyāalong with his wife
  7. upātapyatabegan to suffer the heat of the fire
  8. sa-anvayaḥalong with descendants
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.28

    In this verse: “king”, “citizens”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 4.28

    In this verse: “material”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 4.28

    In this verse: “suffering”

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

Am I preparing only for temporary comfort, or also considering my future life?

Practice

Write down one concern about your future life that deserves attention alongside your material plans.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayMaterial Progress Cannot Remove DeathThis 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 4.28.12? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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