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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
4.28.474.28.49

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.28.48

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
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

उत्तिष्ठोत्तिष्ठ राजर्षे इमामुदधिमेखलाम् ।

दस्युभ्य: क्षत्रबन्धुभ्यो बिभ्यतीं पातुमर्हसि ॥ ४८ ॥

uttiṣṭhottiṣṭha rājarṣe

imām udadhi-mekhalām

dasyubhyaḥ kṣatra-bandhubhyo

bibhyatīṁ pātum arhasi

Translation

O best of kings, please get up! Get up! Just see this world surrounded by water and infested with rogues and so-called kings. This world is very much afraid, and it is your duty to protect her.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

True Religion Means Serving the Supreme Lord

  1. 1

    Religion means abiding by the orders of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Its principles begin with surrender to Him.

  2. 2

    The ācārya establishes devotional service, including hearing, chanting and remembering. Human life is meant for thinking of the Lord, becoming His devotee, worshiping Him and bowing before Him.

  3. 3

    After the ācārya disappears, unauthorized principles may be introduced. Sincere disciples help protect his mission by following his instructions.

Key points from the purport
  • Whenever an ācārya comes, following the superior orders of the Supreme Personality of Godhead or His representative, he establishes the principles of religion, as enunciated in Bhagavad-gītā.
  • Religious principles begin from the time one surrenders to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • The ācārya, the authorized representative of the Supreme Lord, establishes these principles, but when he disappears, things once again become disordered.

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 4.28.48 quotesBG 9.34

Actually, human life is meant for executing the orders of the Supreme Lord, and this is stated in Bhagavad-gītā (9.34): “Engage your mind always in thinking of Me and become My devotee.

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. uttiṣṭhaplease get up
  2. uttiṣṭhaplease get up
  3. rāja-ṛṣeO saintly king
  4. imāmthis earth
  5. udadhiby the ocean
  6. mekhalāmsurrounded
  7. dasyubhyaḥfrom the rogues
  8. kṣatra-bandhubhyaḥfrom the unclean kings
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

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

    In this verse: “duty”, “religion”, “principles”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

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

    In this verse: “chanting”, “hearing”

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 make following the Lord’s instructions more central to my day?

Practice

Spend two minutes remembering Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and offer Him obeisances.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayTrue Religion Means Serving the Supreme LordThis 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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