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Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 20

Purañjana Goes Hunting — The Chariot of the Body, Violence of Passion, and Return to Conjugal Bondage

अनुनिन्येऽथ शनकैर्वीरोऽनुनयकोविद: । पस्पर्श पादयुगलमाह चोत्सङ्गलालिताम् ॥ २० ॥

anuninye ’tha śanakair vīro ’nunaya-kovidaḥ pasparśa pāda-yugalam āha cotsaṅga-lālitām

پھر وہ بہادر بادشاہ، جو منانے میں بڑا ماہر تھا، آہستہ آہستہ ملکہ کو راضی کرنے لگا۔ پہلے اس نے اس کے دونوں قدم چھوئے، پھر اسے گود میں بٹھا کر محبت سے گلے لگایا اور یوں کہنے لگا۔

अनुनिन्येhe led/propitiated (gently brought around)
अनुनिन्ये:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootअनु + नी (धातु)
Formलिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular); परस्मैपद
अथthen
अथ:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootअथ (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय (particle/adverb), अनुक्रम/अनन्तर (then/thereupon)
शनकैःslowly, gently
शनकैः:
Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Adverbial)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootशनकैः (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय (adverb), manner: 'slowly/gently'
वीरःthe hero
वीरः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootवीर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular)
अनुनय-कोविदःskilled in persuasion
अनुनय-कोविदः:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootअनुनय (प्रातिपदिक) + कोविद (प्रातिपदिक)
Formसमासः तत्पुरुष ('skilled in conciliation'); पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (of वीरः)
पस्पर्शtouched
पस्पर्श:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootस्पृश् (धातु)
Formलिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)
पाद-युगलम्the pair of feet
पाद-युगलम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootपाद (प्रातिपदिक) + युगल (प्रातिपदिक)
Formसमासः तत्पुरुष ('pair of feet'); नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular)
आहsaid
आह:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootअह्/ब्रू (धातु; आह as perfect of √अह्/ब्रू)
Formलिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)
and
:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)
उत्सङ्ग-लालिताम्(her) who was fondled on (his) lap
उत्सङ्ग-लालिताम्:
Karma (कर्म/Object—addressed/comforted person)
TypeAdjective
Rootउत्सङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + लालित (लल् धातु, क्त-प्रत्यय)
Formसमासः तत्पुरुष ('caressed on the lap'); स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine), द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण (of implied 'her'/महिषीम्)

One has to awaken his Kṛṣṇa consciousness by first regretting his past deeds. Just as King Purañjana began to flatter his Queen, one should, by deliberate consideration, raise himself to the platform of Kṛṣṇa consciousness. To attain such an end, one must touch the lotus feet of the spiritual master. Kṛṣṇa consciousness cannot be achieved by self-endeavor. One must therefore approach a self-realized, Kṛṣṇa conscious person and touch his lotus feet. Prahlāda Mahārāja therefore said:

P
Purañjana
T
the young woman (allegorical wife of Purañjana)

FAQs

This verse shows Purañjana’s persuasive attachment to the woman, illustrating how the conditioned soul becomes captivated by material nature through affection, intimacy, and sense-oriented relationship.

He is described as anunaya-kovidaḥ—skilled in conciliation—so he uses tenderness and humility to win her favor, reflecting the dynamics of attachment that deepen worldly bondage in the allegory.

Be mindful that charm, persuasion, and intimacy can intensify attachment; cultivate devotion and self-control so relationships support dharma and bhakti rather than pulling consciousness into mere sense gratification.