1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 4 · The Creation of the Fourth Order · 31 chapters

12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
4.29.1b4.30.1

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.29.2b

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 4.29.80inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

श्लोक २ब

अद‍ृष्टं द‍ृष्टवन्नङ्‌क्षेद्भूतं स्वप्नवदन्यथा ।

भूतं भवद्भविष्यच्च सुप्तं सर्वरहोरह: ॥ २ब ॥

adṛṣṭaṁ dṛṣṭavan naṅkṣed

bhūtaṁ svapnavad anyathā

bhūtaṁ bhavad bhaviṣyac ca

suptaṁ sarva-raho-rahaḥ

Translation

Everything happening within time, which consists of past, present and future, is merely a dream. That is the secret understanding in all Vedic literature.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa and His Service Are Reality

  1. 1

    Material existence within past, present and future is like a dream. This is the secret understanding of Vedic literature.

  2. 2

    Working through fruitive activities for future happiness is also dreaming. Past and present material happiness are similarly dreams.

  3. 3

    The actual reality is Kṛṣṇa and service to Kṛṣṇa, which can save us from māyā. Those who surrender to Him can cross beyond His illusory energy.

Key points from the purport
  • Factually all of material existence is only a dream.
  • Thus there is no question of past, present or future.
  • Similarly, past happiness and present happiness are merely dreams.

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 4.29.2b quotesBG 7.14

The actual reality is Kṛṣṇa and service to Kṛṣṇa, which can save us from the clutches of māyā, for the Lord says in Bhagavad-gītā (7.14), mām eva ye prapadyante māyām etāṁ taranti te: “Those who surrender unto Me can easily cross beyond My illusory energy.”

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. adṛṣṭamfuture happiness
  2. dṛṣṭa-vatlike direct experience
  3. naṅkṣetbecomes vanquished
  4. bhūtamthe material existence
  5. svapnavatlike a dream
  6. anyathāotherwise
  7. bhūtamwhich happened in the past
  8. bhavatpresent
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “māyā”, “material”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 4.29

    In this verse: “understanding”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 4.29

    In this verse: “surrender”

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 placing my hope in temporary material happiness or in service to Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Pause over one plan for future material happiness today, and offer a brief prayer to Kṛṣṇa asking to put service to Him first.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa and His Service Are RealityThis 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 4.29.2b? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories