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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
4.28.644.29.1

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.28.65

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

बर्हिष्मन्नेतदध्यात्मं पारोक्ष्येण प्रदर्शितम् ।

यत्परोक्षप्रियो देवो भगवान् विश्वभावन: ॥ ६५ ॥

barhiṣmann etad adhyātmaṁ

pārokṣyeṇa pradarśitam

yat parokṣa-priyo devo

bhagavān viśva-bhāvanaḥ

Translation

My dear King Prācīnabarhi, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the cause of all causes, is celebrated to be known indirectly. Thus I have described the story of Purañjana to you. Actually it is an instruction for self-realization.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Hear Stories for Their Spiritual Purpose

  1. 1

    The story of Purañjana is an indirect instruction for self-realization. The Supreme Personality of Godhead, the cause of all causes, is celebrated as being known indirectly.

  2. 2

    Stories in the Purāṇas interest ordinary people in transcendental subjects and refer to real facts; some describe historical events. We should seek their real teaching rather than treat them as stories without a spiritual purpose.

  3. 3

    The path of bhakti-yoga is hearing directly about the pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Indirect stories can help those not yet interested in such hearing, while service to a bona fide spiritual master helps them progress toward devotional service.

Key points from the purport
  • Herein this word refers to real enjoyment in spiritual life.
  • The symptom of such a spiritual master is that he is expert in understanding the Vedic conclusion, and therefore he constantly engages in the service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.”
  • If one is attracted by the bhakti cult, he becomes engaged in the service of the Lord and the spiritual master, and thus his life becomes successful.

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. barhiṣmanO King Prācīnabarhi
  2. etatthis
  3. adhyātmamnarration of self-realization
  4. pārokṣyeṇaindirectly
  5. pradarśitaminstructed
  6. yatbecause
  7. parokṣa-priyaḥinteresting by indirect description
  8. devaḥthe Supreme Lord
  9. bhagavānthe Personality of Godhead
  10. viśva-bhāvanaḥthe cause of all causes
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”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.28

    In this verse: “king”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 4.28

    In this verse: “hearing”

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 looking for the teaching that leads to devotional service, or only following the events of the story?

Practice

Spend five quiet minutes rereading this verse and its opening purport, then write one sentence about the spiritual purpose of Purañjana’s story.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHear Stories for Their Spiritual PurposeThis 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.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 4.28.65? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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