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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
4.28.254.28.27

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.28.26

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:King Purañjanasince 4.28.21inside 5 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraNārada Muni → King PrācīnabarhiThe allegory of King Purañjana → Prācīnabarhi, as listener

तं यज्ञपशवोऽनेन संज्ञप्ता येऽदयालुना ।

कुठारैश्चिच्छिदु: क्रुद्धा: स्मरन्तोऽमीवमस्य तत् ॥ २६ ॥

taṁ yajña-paśavo ’nena

saṁjñaptā ye ’dayālunā

kuṭhāraiś cicchiduḥ kruddhāḥ

smaranto ’mīvam asya tat

Translation

That most unkind king, Purañjana, had killed many animals in various sacrifices. Now, taking advantage of this opportunity, all these animals began to pierce him with their horns. It was as though he were being cut to pieces by axes.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Respect Every Living Entity's Life

  1. 1

    The animals Purañjana had killed in sacrifices now pierced him with their horns. The purport warns that killing animals brings corresponding suffering after death.

  2. 2

    Although the living entity is not actually killed, the pain inflicted and the later reactions are real. Calling animal-killing religious does not remove its consequences.

  3. 3

    Everyone should be given freedom to live under the care of the supreme father. The Supreme Personality of Godhead condemns animal-killing for religion or food.

Key points from the purport
  • Those who are very enthusiastic about killing animals in the name of religion or for food must await similar punishment after death.
  • Although in actuality no living entity is killed, the pains of being pierced by the horns of animals will be experienced after death.
  • So-called human civilization has opened many slaughterhouses for animals in the name of religion or food.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 4.28.26 quotesBG 16.19

In Bhagavad-gītā (16.19) Lord Kṛṣṇa says: “Those who are envious and mischievous, who are the lowest among men, are cast by Me into the ocean of material existence, into various demoniac species of life.”

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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. tamhim
  2. yajña-paśavaḥthe sacrificial animals
  3. anenaby him
  4. saṁjñaptāḥkilled
  5. yeall of them who
  6. adayālunāby the most unkind
  7. kuṭhāraiḥby axes
  8. cicchiduḥpierced to pieces
3

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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.28

    In this verse: “king”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

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

    In this verse: “suffering”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 4.28

    In this verse: “religious”

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 can my choices better respect other living entities' freedom to live?

Practice

Choose a meal today that does not require killing animals.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayRespect Every Living Entity's LifeThis 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.

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