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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
4.28.524.28.54

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.28.53

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The brāhmaṇasince 4.28.53inside 5 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraNārada Muni → King PrācīnabarhiThe allegory of King Purañjana → Prācīnabarhi, as listener

अपि स्मरसि चात्मानमविज्ञातसखं सखे ।

हित्वा मां पदमन्विच्छन् भौमभोगरतो गत: ॥ ५३ ॥

api smarasi cātmānam

avijñāta-sakhaṁ sakhe

hitvā māṁ padam anvicchan

bhauma-bhoga-rato gataḥ

Translation

The brāhmaṇa continued: My dear friend, even though you cannot immediately recognize Me, can’t you remember that in the past you had a very intimate friend? Unfortunately, you gave up My company and accepted a position as enjoyer of this material world.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Choose Loving Service Over Independent Enjoyment

  1. 1

    The living entity’s natural position is to serve the Lord with transcendental love. Misusing independence to imitate Kṛṣṇa leads to material entanglement.

  2. 2

    Kṛṣṇa’s affection for the living entity is eternal. As Paramātmā, He remains with the living entity so that he may return home, back to Godhead.

  3. 3

    The Supersoul instructs the living entity to surrender to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Knowing the Lord as the supreme enjoyer, proprietor and friend brings peace.

Key points from the purport
  • When the living entity falls down into the material world, the Supreme Lord, through His svāṁśa expansion (Paramātmā), keeps company with the living entity.
  • By misusing his independence, the living entity falls down from the service of the Lord and takes a position in this material world as an enjoyer — that is to say, the living entity takes his position within a material body.
  • But unless the living entity is uncontaminated by material desires, he cannot surrender to the Supreme Lord.

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 4.28.53 quotesBG 7.27

As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (7.27): “O scion of Bharata [Arjuna], O conqueror of the foe, all living entities are born into delusion, overcome by the dualities of desire and hate.”

The purport of SB 4.28.53 quotesBG 5.29

In Bhagavad-gītā (5.29) the Lord says: “The sages, knowing Me as the ultimate purpose of all sacrifices and austerities, the Supreme Lord of all planets and demigods and the benefactor and well-wisher of all living entities, attain peace from the pangs of material miseries.”

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. api smarasido you remember
  2. caalso
  3. ātmānamthe Supersoul
  4. avijñātaunknown
  5. sakhamfriend
  6. sakheO friend
  7. hitvāgiving up
  8. māmMe
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 4.28

    In this verse: “material”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 4.28

    In this verse: “gave up”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 4.28

    In this verse: “friend”

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

Where am I seeking independent enjoyment instead of choosing loving service?

Practice

Set aside one small plan for personal enjoyment and use that time for devotional service.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayChoose Loving Service Over Independent EnjoymentThis 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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