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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
4.29.114.29.13

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.29.12

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Nārada Munisince 4.29.5inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraNārada Muni → King Prācīnabarhi

आपणो व्यवहारोऽत्र चित्रमन्धो बहूदनम् ।

पितृहूर्दक्षिण: कर्ण उत्तरो देवहू: स्मृत: ॥ १२ ॥

āpaṇo vyavahāro ’tra

citram andho bahūdanam

pitṛhūr dakṣiṇaḥ karṇa

uttaro devahūḥ smṛtaḥ

Translation

The city called Āpaṇa represents engagement of the tongue in speech, and Bahūdana is the variety of foodstuffs. The right ear is called the gate of Pitṛhū, and the left ear is called the gate of Devahū.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Speech, Food, and the Ear Gates

  1. 1

    The city called Āpaṇa represents the tongue’s engagement in speech.

  2. 2

    Bahūdana represents the variety of foodstuffs.

  3. 3

    The right ear is the gate called Pitṛhū, and the left ear is the gate called Devahū.

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. āpaṇaḥnamed Āpaṇa
  2. vyavahāraḥbusiness of the tongue
  3. atrahere
  4. citramof all varieties
  5. andhaḥeatables
  6. bahūdanamnamed Bahūdana
  7. pitṛ-hūḥnamed Pitṛhū
  8. dakṣiṇaḥright
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

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

What helps me remember the different bodily functions represented in this verse?

Practice

Read the verse aloud once, then name what Āpaṇa, Bahūdana, Pitṛhū, and Devahū represent.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySpeech, Food, and the Ear GatesThis 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.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 4.29.12? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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