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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
4.29.26-274.29.29

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.29.28

Ūti· What drives us to act
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

शुक्लात्प्रकाशभूयिष्ठाँल्लोकानाप्नोति कर्हिचित् ।

दु:खोदर्कान् क्रियायासांस्तम:शोकोत्कटान् क्‍वचित् ॥ २८ ॥

śuklāt prakāśa-bhūyiṣṭhāḻ

lokān āpnoti karhicit

duḥkhodarkān kriyāyāsāṁs

tamaḥ-śokotkaṭān kvacit

Translation

Those who are situated in the mode of goodness act piously according to Vedic injunctions. Thus they are elevated to the higher planetary systems where the demigods live. Those who are influenced by the mode of passion engage in various types of productive activities in the planetary systems where human beings live. Similarly, those influenced by the mode of darkness are subjected to various types of misery and live in the animal kingdom.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Modes Shape Material Destinations

  1. 1

    Those influenced by goodness act according to Vedic instructions and reach higher planetary systems. Those influenced by passion remain in the middle systems, while ignorance leads to lower systems or animal life.

  2. 2

    The purport describes society’s intense factory labor as ugra-karma, or distressful activities. Under passion and ignorance, both those using others’ labor and those performing it remain in distressful conditions.

  3. 3

    The living entity is qualitatively the same as the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but forgetfulness leads to different material bodies. The purport describes these higher and lower forms as conditions within the material world.

Key points from the purport
  • Those influenced by the mode of goodness are given places in the upper planetary systems — Brahmaloka (Satyaloka), Tapoloka, Janaloka and Maharloka.
  • Those influenced by the mode of passion are given places in the Bhūrloka and Bhuvarloka.
  • In contrast to these men are those influenced by the mode of goodness — the karmīs and jñānīs.

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. śuklātby goodness
  2. prakāśaby illumination
  3. bhūyiṣṭhāncharacterized
  4. lokānplanets
  5. āpnotiachieves
  6. karhicitsometimes
  7. duḥkhadistress
  8. udarkānhaving as the end result
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.29

    In this verse: “kingdom”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 4.29

    In this verse: “distressful”

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 mistake intense productive activity for happiness, even when it brings distress?

Practice

Review one activity today and note whether it reflects goodness, restless passion, or ignorance.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Modes Shape Material DestinationsThis 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 4.29.28? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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