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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
4.28.584.28.60

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.28.59

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

तस्मिंस्त्वं रामया स्पृष्टो रममाणोऽश्रुतस्मृति: ।

तत्सङ्गादीद‍ृशीं प्राप्तो दशां पापीयसीं प्रभो ॥ ५९ ॥

tasmiṁs tvaṁ rāmayā spṛṣṭo

ramamāṇo ’śruta-smṛtiḥ

tat-saṅgād īdṛśīṁ prāpto

daśāṁ pāpīyasīṁ prabho

Translation

My dear friend, when you enter such a body along with the woman of material desires, you become overly absorbed in sense enjoyment. Because of this, you have forgotten your spiritual life. Due to your material conceptions, you are placed in various miserable conditions.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Take Shelter Beyond Material Absorption

  1. 1

    Absorption in sense enjoyment leads to forgetfulness of spiritual life. Material conceptions place the living entity in miserable conditions.

  2. 2

    When a person becomes materially engrossed, he loses the capacity to hear about spiritual existence. Such forgetfulness entangles him more deeply in material existence.

  3. 3

    Taking shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead can elevate anyone to the highest perfection. An unfavorable birth does not prevent this shelter.

Key points from the purport
  • When a person becomes materially engrossed, he has no capacity to hear about spiritual existence.
  • Forgetfulness of spiritual existence entangles a man more and more in material existence.
  • Various bodies are developed with the material ingredients because of different types of sinful activities.

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. tasminin that situation
  2. tvamyou
  3. rāmayāwith the woman
  4. spṛṣṭaḥbeing in contact
  5. ramamāṇaḥenjoying
  6. aśruta-smṛtiḥwithout remembrance of spiritual existence
  7. tatwith her
  8. saṅgātby association
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”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

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

    In this verse: “friend”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

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

    In this verse: “shelter”

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

Which pursuit of enjoyment is making it harder for me to hear about spiritual life?

Practice

Set aside one distracting enjoyment for a few minutes today and use that time to reread this verse with a desire to take shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayTake Shelter Beyond Material AbsorptionThis 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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