Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 1

Nārada Explains the Allegory of King Purañjana

Deha–Indriya–Manaḥ Mapping and the Remedy of Bhakti

Devanagari script

प्राचीनबर्हिरुवाच भगवंस्ते वचोऽस्माभिर्न सम्यगवगम्यते । कवयस्तद्विजानन्ति न वयं कर्ममोहिता: ॥ १ ॥

Transliteration

prācīnabarhir uvāca bhagavaṁs te vaco ’smābhir na samyag avagamyate kavayas tad vijānanti na vayaṁ karma-mohitāḥ

Translation

King Prācīnabarhi replied: My dear lord, we could not appreciate completely the purport of your allegorical story of King Purañjana. Actually, those who are perfect in spiritual knowledge can understand, but for us, who are overly attached to fruitive activities, to realize the purpose of your story is very difficult.

Synonyms

• prācīnabarhiḥ: King Prācīnabarhi
• prācīnabarhiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prācīnabarhis (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); समासः—कर्मधारय (प्राचीनं च तत् बर्हिः)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• bhagavan: O venerable one
• bhagavan: Sambodhana (संबोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (संबोधन/8), Singular (एकवचन)

• te: your
• te: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)

• vacaḥ: speech/statement
• vacaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vacas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)

• asmābhiḥ: by us
• asmābhiḥ: Karana (करण/तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Plural (बहुवचन)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle of negation (निषेध-अव्यय)

• samyak: properly
• samyak: Visheshana (विशेषण/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: samyak (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय)

• avagamyate: is understood
• avagamyate: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ava+gam (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद); Passive sense (कर्मणि-प्रयोग)

• kavayaḥ: the sages/poets
• kavayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kavi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म/द्वितीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन), Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग)

• vijānanti: know/understand
• vijānanti: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi+jñā (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle of negation (निषेध-अव्यय)

• vayam: we
• vayam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun (सर्वनाम), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन)

• karma-mohitāḥ: deluded by action/karma
• karma-mohitāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: karma (प्रातिपदिक) + mohita (कृदन्त; मुह् धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/कृदन्त) ‘mohita’; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Plural (बहुवचन); समासः—तत्पुरुष (कर्मणा मोहिताः)

Purport

In Bhagavad-gītā (7.13) Lord Kṛṣṇa says:

Characters & Entities

• Prācīnabarhi

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about being bewildered by karma (fruitive work)?

This verse states that attachment to fruitive activity (karma-moha) clouds one’s ability to understand higher spiritual instruction, whereas the wise can grasp it.

Why did King Prācīnabarhi say he could not understand the sage’s words?

He admits his mind is conditioned by attraction to ritualistic, result-oriented action, which makes subtle spiritual teachings difficult for him to comprehend.

How can I apply this teaching in modern life?

Notice when life becomes only goal-and-result driven; then intentionally add practices that purify motivation—like hearing sacred texts and cultivating devotion—so spiritual meaning becomes clearer.