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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
4.28.144.28.16

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.28.15

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

शिथिलावयवो यर्हि गन्धर्वैर्हृतपौरुष: ।

यवनैररिभी राजन्नुपरुद्धो रुरोद ह ॥ १५ ॥

śithilāvayavo yarhi

gandharvair hṛta-pauruṣaḥ

yavanair aribhī rājann

uparuddho ruroda ha

Translation

The limbs of the serpent’s body were slackened by the Gandharvas and Yavana soldiers, who had thoroughly defeated his bodily strength. When he attempted to leave the body, he was checked by his enemies. Being thus baffled in his attempt, he began to cry loudly.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Remember Kṛṣṇa While You Are Healthy

  1. 1

    Disease at the end of life can obstruct the body's passages and prevent clear speech. The dying person may be unable to express his difficulties.

  2. 2

    King Kulaśekhara prays for his mind to enter the shelter of Kṛṣṇa's lotus feet now. He fears that a choked throat at death may hinder remembrance.

  3. 3

    The purport urges remembrance of the Lord while healthy. Those strong in Kṛṣṇa consciousness, accustomed to chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, do not forget Him even at death.

Key points from the purport
  • At the last stage of life, the different gates of the body are choked by the effects of disease, which are caused by an imbalance of bile, mucus and air.
  • Thus the living entity cannot clearly express his difficulties, and surrounding relatives hear the sound “ghura ghura” from a dying man.
  • In old age, at the time of death, the throat sometimes becomes choked with mucus or blocked by air.

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. śithilaslackened
  2. avayavaḥhis limbs
  3. yarhiwhen
  4. gandharvaiḥby the Gandharvas
  5. hṛtadefeated
  6. pauruṣaḥhis bodily strength
  7. yavanaiḥby the Yavanas
  8. aribhiḥby the enemies
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 4.28

    In this verse: “fears”, “death”, “dying”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 4.28

    In this verse: “chanting”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.28

    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

What am I doing now to make remembrance of Kṛṣṇa a steady habit?

Practice

Spend a few attentive minutes chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayRemember Kṛṣṇa While You Are HealthyThis 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 4.28.15? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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