Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 30

The Fall of Purañjana and the Supersoul as the Eternal Friend

Purañjana-Upākhyāna Culmination

Devanagari script

तस्यां स जनयां चक्र आत्मजामसितेक्षणाम् । यवीयस: सप्त सुतान् सप्त द्रविडभूभृत: ॥ ३० ॥

Transliteration

tasyāṁ sa janayāṁ cakra ātmajām asitekṣaṇām yavīyasaḥ sapta sutān sapta draviḍa-bhūbhṛtaḥ

Translation

彼女からマラヤドヴァジャは、黒い瞳をもつ一人の娘をもうけた。さらに七人の年少の息子たちも生まれ、のちにドラヴィダ地方の支配者となった。かくしてその地には七人の王が立った。

Synonyms

• तस्याम्: in her (i.e., in that wife)
• तस्याम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः (Locative), एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम

• जनयाम्: a daughter
• जनयाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जनया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्

• चक्र: made/produced
• चक्र: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (Perfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथम-पुरुषः, एकवचनम्

• आत्मजाम्: his own-born (daughter)
• आत्मजाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक) + जा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (आत्मनः जा)

• असित-ईक्षणाम्: dark-eyed
• असित-ईक्षणाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: असित (प्रातिपदिक) + ईक्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; कर्मधारयः (असितम् ईक्षणम् यस्याः)

• यवीयसः: younger
• यवीयसः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यवीयस् (प्रातिपदिक; comparative)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; विशेषणम् (सुतान् इति विशेष्य)

• सप्त: seven
• सप्त: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्या-शब्दः; अत्र पुंलिङ्ग-द्वितीया-बहुवचन-विशेष्ये (सुतान्) संख्याविशेषणम्

• सुतान्: sons
• सुतान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• सप्त: seven
• सप्त: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सप्त (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययवत् संख्या-शब्दः; अत्र पुंलिङ्ग-प्रथमा-बहुवचन-विशेष्ये (द्रविडभूभृतः) संख्याविशेषणम्

• द्रविड-भूभृतः: Draviḍa kings (earth-bearers)
• द्रविड-भूभृतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्रविड (प्रातिपदिक) + भूभृत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; तत्पुरुषः (द्रविडानां भूभृतः = द्रविड-देश-राजानः)

Purport

King Malayadhvaja was a great devotee, and after he married the daughter of King Vidarbha, he gave her one nice daughter, whose eyes were black. Figuratively this means that the daughter of King Malayadhvaja was also bestowed with devotional service, for her eyes were always fixed on Kṛṣṇa. A devotee has no vision in his life other than Kṛṣṇa. The seven sons are the seven processes of devotional service — hearing, chanting, remembering, offering worship, offering prayers, rendering transcendental loving service and serving the lotus feet of the Lord. Of the nine types of devotional service, only seven were immediately given. The balance — friendship and surrendering everything — were to be developed later. In other words, devotional service is divided into two categories, namely vidhi-mārga and rāga-mārga. The process of becoming friends with the Lord and sacrificing everything for Him belongs to the category of rāga-mārga, the stage of developed devotional service. For the neophyte, the important processes are those of hearing and chanting ( śravaṇaṁ kīrtanam ), remembering Kṛṣṇa, worshiping the Deity in the temple, offering prayers, always engaging in the service of the Lord, and worshiping the lotus feet of the Lord.

Characters & Entities

• Purañjana (as the king in the allegory)
• Vaidarbhī (his queen in the allegory)

FAQs

Who are the seven Draviḍa kings mentioned in Srimad Bhagavatam 4.28.30?

This verse states that seven younger sons were born who became rulers in the Draviḍa (southern) region; it highlights a lineage and regional kingship arising from the narrative of Purañjana.

What is the meaning of the Purañjana story in Bhagavatam Canto 4 Chapter 28?

The Purañjana narrative is an allegory about the conditioned soul’s entanglement in bodily identity, family life, and karma, leading to future births and continued worldly roles.

Practical application: what does this verse teach about family life and attachment?

It reminds a seeker that worldly expansion—children, status, and legacy—can continue the cycle of identity and obligation, so one should cultivate devotion and self-awareness alongside duties.