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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
4.28.84.28.10

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.28.9

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Nārada Munisince 4.28.1inside 5 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraNārada Muni → King PrācīnabarhiThe allegory of King Purañjana → Prācīnabarhi, as listener

कामानभिलषन्दीनो यातयामांश्च कन्यया ।

विगतात्मगतिस्‍नेह: पुत्रदारांश्च लालयन् ॥ ९ ॥

kāmān abhilaṣan dīno

yāta-yāmāṁś ca kanyayā

vigatātma-gati-snehaḥ

putra-dārāṁś ca lālayan

Translation

The objects of enjoyment became stale by the influence of Kālakanyā. Due to the continuance of his lusty desires, King Purañjana became very poor in everything. Thus he did not understand the aim of life. He was still very affectionate toward his wife and children, and he worried about maintaining them.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Do Not Forget Life’s Spiritual Aim

  1. 1

    Under Kālakanyā’s influence, Purañjana’s objects of enjoyment become stale, but his lusty desires continue. He remains concerned with maintaining his wife and children.

  2. 2

    The purport warns that absorption in maintaining the body, home and family can leave a person confused about spiritual life and the goal of human life.

  3. 3

    A civilization centered on sense gratification thinks only of this life. Although the next life is a fact, it provides no information about it.

Key points from the purport
  • Consequently everyone becomes confused at the end of life, not knowing what spiritual life and the goal of human life are.
  • In a civilization of sense gratification there cannot be spiritual life, because a person thinks only of this life.
  • Although the next life is a fact, no information is given about it.

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. kāmānobjects of enjoyment
  2. abhilaṣanalways lusting after
  3. dīnaḥthe poor man
  4. yāta-yāmānstale
  5. caalso
  6. kanyayāby the influence of Kālakanyā
  7. vigatalost
  8. ātma-gatireal purpose of life
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: “lusty”, “sense gratification”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “understand”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.28

    In this verse: “king”

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

Do my daily concerns leave room to understand spiritual life and the next life?

Practice

Set aside five minutes from household or bodily concerns today to study the spiritual aim of human life.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDo Not Forget Life’s Spiritual AimThis 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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