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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.
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Canto 4 · Chapter 28: Purañjana Becomes a Woman in the Next Life
4.28.604.28.62

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.28.61

Mukti· Liberation
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

माया ह्येषा मया सृष्टा यत्पुमांसं स्त्रियं सतीम् ।

मन्यसे नोभयं यद्वै हंसौ पश्यावयोर्गतिम् ॥ ६१ ॥

māyā hy eṣā mayā sṛṣṭā

yat pumāṁsaṁ striyaṁ satīm

manyase nobhayaṁ yad vai

haṁsau paśyāvayor gatim

Translation

Sometimes you think yourself a man, sometimes a chaste woman and sometimes a neutral eunuch. This is all because of the body, which is created by the illusory energy. This illusory energy is My potency, and actually both of us — you and I — are pure spiritual identities. Now just try to understand this. I am trying to explain our factual position.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Return to Spiritual Life Through Bhakti-yoga

  1. 1

    The Supreme Lord is the Supersoul, and the living entity is an individual spiritual soul. Both are eternal spiritual identities and are one in quality.

  2. 2

    Through contact with material nature, the living entity forgets that he is an eternal part and parcel of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He then identifies himself with a temporary body and tries to enjoy its senses.

  3. 3

    Bhakti-yoga, also called sanātana-dharma, is the process for returning home, back to Godhead. Devotional service ends perpetual bondage in material bodies.

Key points from the purport
  • Both the Lord and the living entity are sanātana (eternal), and there is also a place known as sanātana, beyond this material nature.
  • The real residence of both the living entity and God is the domain of sanātana, not this material world.
  • The material world is the temporary, external energy of the Lord, and the living entity is placed in this material world because he wanted to imitate the position of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

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. māyāillusory energy
  2. hicertainly
  3. eṣāthis
  4. mayāby Me
  5. sṛṣṭācreated
  6. yatfrom which
  7. pumāṁsama male
  8. striyama female
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “bhakti-yoga”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 4.28

    In this verse: “understand”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

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

Am I giving attention to my eternal spiritual life as well as my temporary bodily duties?

Practice

Set aside a few minutes today for devotional service, consciously making it a priority rather than leaving it until every bodily concern is finished.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayReturn to Spiritual Life Through Bhakti-yogaThis 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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