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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
4.29.18-204.29.22

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.29.21

Nirodha· Winding up
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Nārada Munisince 4.29.18-20inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraNārada Muni → King Prācīnabarhi

संवत्सरश्चण्डवेग: कालो येनोपलक्षित: ।

तस्याहानीह गन्धर्वा गन्धर्व्यो रात्रय: स्मृता: ।

हरन्त्यायु: परिक्रान्त्या षष्ट्युत्तरशतत्रयम् ॥ २१ ॥

saṁvatsaraś caṇḍavegaḥ

kālo yenopalakṣitaḥ

tasyāhānīha gandharvā

gandharvyo rātrayaḥ smṛtāḥ

haranty āyuḥ parikrāntyā

ṣaṣṭy-uttara-śata-trayam

Translation

What was previously explained as Caṇḍavega, powerful time, is covered by days and nights, named Gandharvas and Gandharvīs. The body’s life span is gradually reduced by the passage of days and nights, which number 360.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Passing Time Gradually Reduces Our Life

  1. 1

    Caṇḍavega represents powerful time. The Gandharvas and Gandharvīs represent days and nights.

  2. 2

    As days and nights pass, the body’s life span is gradually reduced.

  3. 3

    Parikrāntyā means “by traveling.” The purport describes how the unnecessary labor of passing through the year is taken to be life’s progress.

Key points from the purport
  • The living entity travels on his chariot day and night during a year consisting of 360 (or more) days and nights.
  • Life’s progress is taken for the unnecessary labor required to cover these 360 days and nights of life.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. saṁvatsaraḥyear
  2. caṇḍa-vegaḥcalled Caṇḍavega
  3. kālaḥtime
  4. yenaby which
  5. upalakṣitaḥsymbolized
  6. tasyaof the duration of life
  7. ahānidays
  8. ihain this life
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Nirodha · Returning home, back to Godhead

    What happens when everything here comes to an end? · Subject 8 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

Am I mistaking the passage of busy days for genuine progress?

Practice

Review today’s activities and identify one unnecessary task that merely consumed your time.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPassing Time Gradually Reduces Our LifeThis 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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