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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
4.28.334.28.35-36

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.28.34

Mukti· Liberation
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

हित्वा गृहान् सुतान् भोगान् वैदर्भी मदिरेक्षणा ।

अन्वधावत पाण्ड्येशं ज्योत्‍स्‍नेव रजनीकरम् ॥ ३४ ॥

hitvā gṛhān sutān bhogān

vaidarbhī madirekṣaṇā

anvadhāvata pāṇḍyeśaṁ

jyotsneva rajanī-karam

Translation

Just as the moonshine follows the moon at night, immediately after King Malayadhvaja departed for Kulācala, his devoted wife, whose eyes were very enchanting, followed him, giving up all homely happiness, despite family and children.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Advance by Serving the Spiritual Master

  1. 1

    Vaidarbhī followed Malayadhvaja, leaving homely happiness behind, just as moonshine follows the moon. The purport compares this to advanced disciples personally serving a retired spiritual master.

  2. 2

    By pleasing and directly serving the spiritual master, a disciple advances in Kṛṣṇa consciousness. The scriptures recommend this service as the way to the highest perfection of devotional service.

  3. 3

    Vaidarbhī’s enchanting eyes are compared to eyes absorbed in seeing the temple Deity. Such fixed attention is a sign of advanced devotion.

Key points from the purport
  • Just as in the vānaprastha stage the wife follows the husband, similarly when the spiritual master retires for nirjana-bhajana, some of his advanced devotees follow him and engage in his personal service.
  • In other words, those who are very fond of family life should come forward in the service of the spiritual master and abandon so-called happiness afforded by society, friendship and love.
  • Queen Vaidarbhī’s eyes were very enchanting, just as one’s eyes are madirekṣaṇa when engaged in seeing the temple Deity.

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. hitvāgiving up
  2. gṛhānhome
  3. sutānchildren
  4. bhogānmaterial happiness
  5. vaidarbhīthe daughter of King Vidarbha
  6. madira-īkṣaṇāwith enchanting eyes
  7. anvadhāvatafollowed
  8. pāṇḍya-īśamKing Malayadhvaja
  9. jyotsnā ivalike the moonshine
  10. rajanī-karamthe moon
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.28

    In this verse: “king”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 4.28

    In this verse: “children”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 4.28

    In this verse: “devotional service”

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 I give service greater importance than my own comfort?

Practice

Set aside one small personal comfort today to make time for service to the spiritual master.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayAdvance by Serving the Spiritual MasterThis 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 4.28.34? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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