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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.
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Canto 4 · Chapter 28: Purañjana Becomes a Woman in the Next Life
4.28.384.28.40

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.28.39

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

आस्ते स्थाणुरिवैकत्र दिव्यं वर्षशतं स्थिर: ।

वासुदेवे भगवति नान्यद्वेदोद्वहन् रतिम् ॥ ३९ ॥

āste sthāṇur ivaikatra

divyaṁ varṣa-śataṁ sthiraḥ

vāsudeve bhagavati

nānyad vedodvahan ratim

Translation

In this way he stayed immovable in one place for one hundred years by the calculation of the demigods. After this time, he developed pure devotional attraction for Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and remained fixed in that position.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Remain Steady in Devotional Service

  1. 1

    Malayadhvaja practiced austerities for one hundred demigod years, equal to thirty-six thousand earth years. He then became fixed in devotional service.

  2. 2

    One who truly knows that Kṛṣṇa is everything surrenders unto Him. Such a great soul is very rare.

  3. 3

    Perfection means not only understanding that Kṛṣṇa is everything, but remaining fixed in that realization and serving Him.

Key points from the purport
  • A hundred years of the demigods would equal thirty-six thousand earth years.
  • After this time, he became fixed in the devotional service of the Lord.
  • Not only must one come to the conclusion that Kṛṣṇa is everything, but he must remain fixed in this realization.

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· 2

The purport of SB 4.28.39 quotesBG 7.19

Such a great soul is very rare.”

The purport of SB 4.28.39 quotesCC Madhya 22.62

As said in Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Madhya 22.62), kṛṣṇe bhakti kaile sarva-karma kṛta haya: when one comes to the conclusion that Kṛṣṇa is everything by worshiping or by rendering devotional service unto Kṛṣṇa, one actually becomes perfect in all respects.

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. āsteremains
  2. sthāṇuḥimmovable
  3. ivalike
  4. ekatrain one place
  5. divyamof the demigods
  6. varṣayears
  7. śatamone hundred
  8. sthiraḥsteady
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional”, “devotional service”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 4.28

    In this verse: “understanding”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 4.28

    In this verse: “surrenders”

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 trying to make devotion a steady commitment rather than an occasional feeling?

Practice

Choose one small act of devotional service and give it a definite time today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayRemain Steady in Devotional ServiceThis 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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