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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
4.28.554.28.57

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.28.56

Sarga· Creation
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

पञ्चारामं नवद्वारमेकपालं त्रिकोष्ठकम् ।

षट्कुलं पञ्चविपणं पञ्चप्रकृति स्त्रीधवम् ॥ ५६ ॥

pañcārāmaṁ nava-dvāram

eka-pālaṁ tri-koṣṭhakam

ṣaṭ-kulaṁ pañca-vipaṇaṁ

pañca-prakṛti strī-dhavam

Translation

In that city [the material body] there are five gardens, nine gates, one protector, three apartments, six families, five stores, five material elements, and one woman who is lord of the house.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Material Body Is Described as a City

  1. 1

    The verse describes the material body as a city with five gardens and nine gates.

  2. 2

    This city has one protector, three apartments and six families.

  3. 3

    It also contains five stores, five material elements and one woman who is lord of the house.

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. pañca-ārāmamfive gardens
  2. nava-dvāramnine gates
  3. ekaone
  4. pālamprotector
  5. trithree
  6. koṣṭhakamapartments
  7. ṣaṭsix
  8. kulamfamilies
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Sarga · The creation of the universe

    Where does the universe come from? · Subject 1 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 4.28

    In this verse: “protector”

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 details stand out to me in this description of the body as a city?

Practice

Write a short list of the city’s features and their numbers, using only this translation.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Material Body Is Described as a CityThis 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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