Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 5

Purañjana Captivated by Lust; Time (Caṇḍavega) and Old Age (Kālakanyā) Begin the Siege

Devanagari script

तयैवं रममाणस्य कामकश्मलचेतस: । क्षणार्धमिव राजेन्द्र व्यतिक्रान्तं नवं वय: ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

tayaivaṁ ramamāṇasya kāma-kaśmala-cetasaḥ kṣaṇārdham iva rājendra vyatikrāntaṁ navaṁ vayaḥ

Translation

O König Prācīnabarhiṣat, so genoss König Purañjana, dessen Herz von Begierde und sündhaften Folgen erfüllt war, die Sinnenfreuden mit seiner Frau, und seine neue Lebenszeit und Jugend vergingen wie in einem halben Augenblick.

Synonyms

• तया: by her
• तया: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb: thus/in this way)

• रममाणस्य: of (him) enjoying
• रममाणस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रम् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (Present middle participle/शानच्), पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), एकवचन; ‘of (him) enjoying’

• काम-काश्मल-चेतसः: whose mind was tainted by lust
• काम-काश्मल-चेतसः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier; genitive)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक) + काश्मल (प्रातिपदिक) + चेतस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (कामेन काश्मलेन चेतः यस्य)

• क्षण-अर्धम्: half a moment
• क्षण-अर्धम्: Upamana/Pramana (उपमान/Measure; with इव)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्षण (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (क्षणस्य अर्धम्)

• इव: as if, like
• इव: Upama (उपमा/Comparison marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमावाचक-अव्यय (particle of comparison)

• राजेन्द्र: O king of kings
• राजेन्द्र: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजेन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन, एकवचन

• व्यतिक्रान्तम्: passed, elapsed
• व्यतिक्रान्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-अति-क्रम् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (Past passive participle/क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘elapsed/passed’ (agreeing with वयः)

• नवम्: new, youthful
• नवम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying वयः)

• वयः: youth, age
• वयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वयस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Purport

Śrīla Govinda dāsa Ṭhākura has sung:

Characters & Entities

• Purañjana
• Rājendra (King Parīkṣit)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about lust (kāma) and how it affects life?

This verse says that when the mind is polluted by lust, one becomes absorbed in enjoyment and precious youth passes away unnoticed, as if in a moment.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī address Parīkṣit Mahārāja as “rājendra” here?

Śukadeva is narrating the allegory to King Parīkṣit and directly instructs him—“O best of kings”—to emphasize the moral: time slips away quickly under sensual absorption.

How can I apply this teaching in modern life?

Be mindful of where attention and desire go; reduce habits that intensify lust and instead invest time in sādhana, service, and purposeful duties so youth and energy support spiritual progress.