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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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Canto 4 · The Creation of the Fourth Order · 31 chapters

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
  2. 2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
  3. 3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
  4. 4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
  5. 5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
  6. 6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 4 · Chapter 29: Talks Between Nārada and King Prācīnabarhi
4.28.654.29.2

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.29.1

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:King Prācīnabarhisince 4.29.1inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraNārada Muni → King Prācīnabarhi

प्राचीनबर्हिरुवाच

भगवंस्ते वचोऽस्माभिर्न सम्यगवगम्यते ।

कवयस्तद्विजानन्ति न वयं कर्ममोहिता: ॥ १ ॥

prācīnabarhir uvāca

bhagavaṁs te vaco ’smābhir

na samyag avagamyate

kavayas tad vijānanti

na vayaṁ karma-mohitāḥ

Translation

King Prācīnabarhi replied: My dear lord, we could not appreciate completely the purport of your allegorical story of King Purañjana. Actually, those who are perfect in spiritual knowledge can understand, but for us, who are overly attached to fruitive activities, to realize the purpose of your story is very difficult.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotional Service Opens Spiritual Understanding

  1. 1

    People enchanted by the three modes of material nature cannot understand that behind material activities is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa.

  2. 2

    Nārada Muni’s allegorical story is meant to engage conditioned souls in devotional service. Those devoted to sense gratification cannot perfectly understand it.

  3. 3

    King Prācīnabarhi honestly admits his difficulty in understanding. Association with the Supreme Personality of Godhead or His representative frees one from material attachment.

Key points from the purport
  • Generally people are enchanted by the three modes of material nature and therefore practically unable to understand that behind all materialistic activities in the cosmic manifestation is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa.
  • Generally when people are engaged in sinful or pious activities, they are not perfect in knowledge of devotional service.
  • The entire story, narrated allegorically, is easily understood by a person in devotional service, but those who are engaged not in devotional service but in sense gratification cannot perfectly understand it.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 4.29.1 quotesBG 7.13

In Bhagavad-gītā (7.13) Lord Kṛṣṇa says: “Deluded by the three modes [goodness, passion and ignorance], the whole world does not know Me, who am above the modes and inexhaustible.”

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

How it feels

Worldly absorption → Sobering awareness. The mind's identification with material life becomes visible.

Chapters 24–29 of Canto 4: Śiva's song and the allegory of Purañjana. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 29: Talks Between Nārada and King Prācīnabarhi

Nārada explains the allegory and devotional service; Prācīnabarhi leaves home to perform austerities.

Back to this verse in chapter 4.29
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. prācīnabarhiḥ uvācaKing Prācīnabarhi said
  2. bhagavanO my lord
  3. teyour
  4. vacaḥwords
  5. asmābhiḥby us
  6. nanever
  7. samyakperfectly
  8. avagamyateare understood
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 4.29

    In this verse: “attached”, “attachment”, “sense gratification”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 4.29

    In this verse: “knowledge”, “understand”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.29

    In this verse: “king”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How might attachment to the results of my activities limit my spiritual understanding?

Practice

Reread the translation today and honestly identify one attachment that distracts you from devotional service.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotional Service Opens Spiritual UnderstandingThis verse's lesson: one practice and one question for today

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.

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