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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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Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
4.28.544.28.56

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.28.55

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

स त्वं विहाय मां बन्धो गतो ग्राम्यमतिर्महीम् ।

विचरन् पदमद्राक्षी: कयाचिन्निर्मितं स्त्रिया ॥ ५५ ॥

sa tvaṁ vihāya māṁ bandho

gato grāmya-matir mahīm

vicaran padam adrākṣīḥ

kayācin nirmitaṁ striyā

Translation

My dear friend, you are now My very same friend. Since you left Me, you have become more and more materialistic, and not seeing Me, you have been traveling in different forms throughout this material world, which was created by some woman.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Take Kṛṣṇa’s Invitation Seriously

  1. 1

    The woman in this description represents prakṛti, the Lord’s external energy. The material world becomes the conditioned soul’s so-called home.

  2. 2

    The living entity wanders through different bodily forms like someone occupying different apartments. Attachment to sense gratification keeps him entangled in material suffering.

  3. 3

    Kṛṣṇa personally, or through His representative, invites living entities to return home, back to Godhead. Meeting Him or His representative is the living entity’s good fortune.

Key points from the purport
  • When the living entity falls down, he goes into the material world, which was created by the external energy of the Lord.
  • The material world, created by this external energy, becomes the so-called home of the conditioned soul.
  • All living entities within this material world are sensually inclined.

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. saḥthat swan
  2. tvamyourself
  3. vihāyaleaving
  4. māmMe
  5. bandhoO friend
  6. gataḥwent
  7. grāmyamaterial
  8. matiḥwhose consciousness
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: “materialistic”, “attachment”, “sense gratification”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

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

    In this verse: “friend”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

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

    In this verse: “suffering”

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

What attachment makes it difficult for me to take Kṛṣṇa’s instructions seriously?

Practice

Put aside one sensory distraction and spend a few minutes reading Kṛṣṇa’s instructions.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayTake Kṛṣṇa’s Invitation SeriouslyThis 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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