Shloka 9
Nārada Instructs Prācīnabarhiṣat: The Purañjana Narrative Begins
City of Nine Gates
अत्र ते कथयिष्येऽमुमितिहासं पुरातनम् । पुरञ्जनस्य चरितं निबोध गदतो मम ॥ ९ ॥
atra te kathayiṣye ’mum itihāsaṁ purātanam purañjanasya caritaṁ nibodha gadato mama
In this connection I shall recount to you an ancient history concerning the life of King Purañjana. Hear my words with careful attention.
The great sage Nārada Muni turned toward another topic, the history of King Purañjana. This is nothing but the history of King Prācīnabarhiṣat told in a different way. In other words, this is an allegorical presentation. The word purañ-jana means “one who enjoys in a body.” This is clearly explained in the next few chapters. Because a person entangled in material activities wants to hear stories of material activities, Nārada Muni turned to the topics of King Purañjana, who is none other than King Prācīnabarhiṣat. Nārada Muni did not directly deprecate the value of performing sacrifices in which animals are sacrificed. Lord Buddha, however, directly rejected all animal sacrifice. Śrīla Jayadeva Gosvāmī has stated, nindasi yajña-vidher ahaha śruti-jātam. The word śruti-jātam indicates that in the Vedas animal sacrifice is recommended, but Lord Buddha directly denied Vedic authority in order to stop animal sacrifice. Consequently Lord Buddha is not accepted by the followers of the Vedas. Because he does not accept the authority of the Vedas, Lord Buddha is depicted as an agnostic or atheist. The great sage Nārada cannot decry the authority of the Vedas, but he wanted to indicate to King Prācīnabarhiṣat that the path of karma-kāṇḍa is very difficult and risky.
FAQs
In this verse, Śukadeva introduces the ancient history of Purañjana, whose life-story is narrated as a teaching narrative (often read as an allegory) within Canto 4, Chapter 25.
Śukadeva signals a transition into an instructive ancient history, inviting the listener to hear carefully because the narrative is meant to convey deeper spiritual lessons through the character of Purañjana.
The verse emphasizes attentive listening to sacred narration—practically, it means setting aside distraction and hearing Bhagavatam-kathā with focus, receptivity, and the intention to understand and transform one’s life.