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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
4.29.154.29.17

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.29.16

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Nārada Munisince 4.29.13inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraNārada Muni → King Prācīnabarhi

अन्त:पुरं च हृदयं विषूचिर्मन उच्यते ।

तत्र मोहं प्रसादं वा हर्षं प्राप्नोति तद्गुणै: ॥ १६ ॥

antaḥ-puraṁ ca hṛdayaṁ

viṣūcir mana ucyate

tatra mohaṁ prasādaṁ vā

harṣaṁ prāpnoti tad-guṇaiḥ

Translation

The word antaḥ-pura refers to the heart. The word viṣūcīna, meaning “going everywhere,” indicates the mind. Within the mind the living entity enjoys the effects of the modes of material nature. These effects sometimes cause illusion, sometimes satisfaction and sometimes jubilation.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Material Nature Acts on the Mind

  1. 1

    Antaḥ-pura refers to the heart, and viṣūcīna, meaning “going everywhere,” indicates the mind. Under the material modes, the mind becomes habituated to wander.

  2. 2

    The modes of material nature act on the mind and heart, producing satisfaction, jubilation, or illusion. The living entity enjoys or suffers the results.

  3. 3

    The bewildered soul thinks himself the doer. In actuality, the activities are carried out by the modes of material nature.

Key points from the purport
  • The mind and intelligence of the living entity in material existence are affected by the modes of material nature, and according to the association of the material modes, the mind is habituated to go here and there.
  • The heart feels satisfaction, jubilation or illusion according to the effects of the modes of material nature.
  • Actually the living entity in his material condition remains inert.

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 4.29.16 quotesBG 3.27

This is clearly stated in Bhagavad-gītā (3.27): “The bewildered spirit soul, under the influence of the three modes of material nature, thinks himself the doer of activities that are in actuality carried out by nature.”

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. antaḥ-puramprivate residence
  2. caand
  3. hṛdayamthe heart
  4. viṣūciḥthe servant named Viṣūcīna
  5. manaḥthe mind
  6. ucyateis said
  7. tatrathere
  8. mohamillusion
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: “illusion”, “material”

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

When my mood changes, do I recognize the influence of material nature?

Practice

Pause during one change of mood today and recall that the modes act on the mind and heart.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayMaterial Nature Acts on the MindThis 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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