FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 4.27.18

स एव पुर्यां मधुभुक्पञ्चालेषु स्वपार्षदै: । उपनीतं बलिं गृह्णन् स्त्रीजितो नाविदद्भयम् ॥ १८ ॥
sa eva puryāṁ madhu-bhuk
[sa eva puryaam madhu-bhuk]
pañcāleṣu sva-pārṣadaiḥ
[panchaaleshu sva-paarshadaih]
upanītaṁ baliṁ gṛhṇan
[upaneetam balim grihnan]
strī-jito nāvidad bhayam
[stree-jito naavidad bhayam]
saḥ — he eva — certainly puryām — within the city madhu-bhuk — enjoying sex life pañcāleṣu — in the kingdom of Pañcāla (five sense objects) sva-pārṣadaiḥ — along with his followers upanītam — brought balim — taxes gṛhṇan — accepting strī-jitaḥ — conquered by women na — did not avidat — understand bhayam — fear of death.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
sa eva puryāṁ madhu-bhuk
saḥ
he
eva
certainly
puryām
within the city
madhu-bhuk
enjoying sex life
pañcāleṣu sva-pārṣadaiḥ
pañcāleṣu
in the kingdom of Pañcāla (five sense objects)
sva-pārṣadaiḥ
along with his followers
upanītaṁ baliṁ gṛhṇan
upanītam
brought
balim
taxes
gṛhṇan
accepting
strī-jito nāvidad bhayam
strī-jitaḥ
conquered by women
na
did not
avidat
understand
bhayam
fear of death.
King Purañjana collected taxes in the city known as Pañcāla and thus was able to engage in sexual indulgence. Being completely under the control of women, he could not understand that his life was passing away and that he was reaching the point of death.

Government men — including kings, presidents, secretaries and ministers — are in a position to utilize taxes collected from the citizens for sense gratification. It is stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam that in this Kali-yuga government men ( rājanyas ) and those connected with the government, as well as exalted government ministers, secretaries and presidents, will all simply collect taxes for sense gratification. The government is top-heavy, and without increasing taxes the government cannot maintain itself. When taxes are collected they are utilized for the sense gratification of the government officials. Such irresponsible politicians forget that there is a time when death will come to take away all their sense gratification. Some of them are convinced that after life everything is finished. This atheistic theory was conceived long ago by a philosopher called Cārvāka. Cārvāka recommended that man should live very opulently by either begging, borrowing or stealing. He also maintained that one should not be afraid of death, the next life, the past life or an impious life because after the body is burnt to ashes everything is finished. This is the philosophy of those who are too much materially addicted. Such philosophizing will not save one from the danger of death, nor will it save one from an abominable afterlife.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
The King, enjoying insignificant pleasures in the city along with his followers, controlled by women, accepting taxes brought from the five provinces, did not know fear. He enjoyed insignificant pleasures (madhu-bhuk) along with the senses (sva-pārṣadaiḥ).
He collected taxes and indulged in sex, completely controlled by women, not noticing his life passing. Even as the defender weakens, the king keeps extracting and indulging — denial as policy.
Reflection Questions
  • Where am I still 'collecting taxes and indulging' while the defender weakens?
  • What policy of mine would I have to change if I admitted what's happening?
📝 My note

← Read full Chapter 27