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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
4.29.164.29.18-20

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.29.17

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

यथा यथा विक्रियते गुणाक्तो विकरोति वा ।

तथा तथोपद्रष्टात्मा तद्वृत्तीरनुकार्यते ॥ १७ ॥

yathā yathā vikriyate

guṇākto vikaroti vā

tathā tathopadraṣṭātmā

tad-vṛttīr anukāryate

Translation

Formerly it was explained that the Queen is one’s intelligence. While one is awake or asleep, that intelligence creates different situations. Being influenced by contaminated intelligence, the living entity envisions something and simply imitates the actions and reactions of his intelligence.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Contaminated Intelligence Directs Conditioned Action

  1. 1

    Purañjana’s queen represents intelligence. Intelligence acts both while one is awake and while one is dreaming.

  2. 2

    In material existence, intelligence is contaminated by the three modes of material nature. The conditioned living entity acts according to that contaminated intelligence.

  3. 3

    Although the living entity remains an observer, he follows the actions and reactions of intelligence. He is forced to act by its influence.

Key points from the purport
  • Intelligence acts both in the dream state and in the waking state, but it is contaminated by the three modes of material nature.
  • In the conditioned state, the living entity acts according to his contaminated intelligence.
  • Although he simply remains an observer, he nonetheless acts, being forced by a contaminated intelligence, which in reality is a passive agent.

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

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yathā yathājust as
  2. vikriyateis agitated
  3. guṇa-aktaḥassociated with the modes of nature
  4. vikarotias it does
  5. vāor
  6. tathā tathāsimilarly
  7. upadraṣṭāobserver
  8. ātmāthe soul
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

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 4.29

    In this verse: “contaminated”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “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

Do I notice how the situations envisioned by my intelligence influence my actions?

Practice

Before acting on one impulse today, pause and identify the thought or imagined situation behind it.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayContaminated Intelligence Directs Conditioned ActionThis 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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