View source for There are many stories in the Puranas that are intended to interest ordinary men in transcendental subjects, but actually these refer to real facts. They are not to be considered stories without a transcendental purpose

<div id="compilation">
<div id="facts">
{{terms|"There are many stories in the Puranas that are intended to interest ordinary men in transcendental subjects, but actually these refer to real facts. They are not to be considered stories without a transcendental purpose"}}
{{notes|}}
{{compiler|SharmisthaK}}
{{complete|ALL}}
{{first|2020-10-17T07:39:33Z}}
{{last|2020-10-17T07:39:33Z}}
{{totals_by_section|BG=0|SB=1|CC=0|OB=0|Lec=0|Con=0|Let=0}}
{{total|1}}
{{toc right}}
[[Category:There Are Many]]
[[Category:Story]]
[[Category:Puranas]]
[[Category:That]]
[[Category:Are]]
[[Category:Intend]]
[[Category:Interest]]
[[Category:Ordinary Man]]
[[Category:Transcendental Subject Matter]]
[[Category:But]]
[[Category:Actually]]
[[Category:These]]
[[Category:Refer]]
[[Category:Real Fact]]
[[Category:They Are Not]]
[[Category:Not Be]]
[[Category:Considered To Be...]]
[[Category:Without]]
[[Category:Transcendental]]
[[Category:Purpose]]
[[Category:Srimad-Bhagavatam, Canto 04 Chapter 28 Purports - Puranjana Becomes a Woman in the Next Life]]
[[Category:Srimad Bhagavatam, Canto 04 Purports]]
</div>
<div id="section">
<h2>Srimad-Bhagavatam</h2>
</div>
<div id="sub_section">
<h3>SB Canto 4</h3>
</div>
<div class="quote">
<div class="quote_heading">
There are many stories in the Purāṇas that are intended to interest ordinary men in transcendental subjects, but actually these refer to real facts. They are not to be considered stories without a transcendental purpose. Some of them refer to real historical facts. One should be interested, however, in the real purport of the story.
</div>

<div class="quote_link">
[[Vanisource:SB 4.28.65|SB 4.28.65, Translation and Purport]]
</div>
<div class="quote_translation">
My dear King Prācīnabarhi, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the cause of all causes, is celebrated to be known indirectly. Thus I have described the story of Purañjana to you. Actually it is an instruction for self-realization.
</div>
<div class="text">
There are many similar stories in the purāṇas for self-realization. As stated in the Vedas: parokṣa-priyā iva hi devāḥ. There are many stories in the Purāṇas that are intended to interest ordinary men in transcendental subjects, but actually these refer to real facts. They are not to be considered stories without a transcendental purpose. Some of them refer to real historical facts. One should be interested, however, in the real purport of the story. Indirect instruction is quickly understandable for a common man. Factually the path of bhakti-yoga is the path of hearing directly about the pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead (śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ ([[Vanisource:SB 7.5.23-24|SB 7.5.23]])), but those who are not interested in hearing directly about the activities of the Lord, or who cannot understand them, can very effectively hear such stories and fables as this one narrated by Nārada Muni.
</div>
</div>
</div>