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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
4.29.24.29.4

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.29.3

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Nārada Munisince 4.29.2inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraNārada Muni → King Prācīnabarhi

योऽविज्ञाताहृतस्तस्य पुरुषस्य सखेश्वर: ।

यन्न विज्ञायते पुम्भिर्नामभिर्वा क्रियागुणै: ॥ ३ ॥

yo ’vijñātāhṛtas tasya

puruṣasya sakheśvaraḥ

yan na vijñāyate pumbhir

nāmabhir vā kriyā-guṇaiḥ

Translation

The person I have described as unknown is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the master and eternal friend of the living entity. Since the living entities cannot realize the Supreme Personality of Godhead by material names, activities or qualities, He remains everlastingly unknown to the conditioned soul.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Reveals Himself Through Devotional Service

  1. 1

    The unknown friend is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the living entity’s master and eternal friend. His name, form, qualities and activities cannot be perceived by material senses.

  2. 2

    The description nirākāra does not mean that the Lord has no form. It means that His spiritual form cannot be understood by a materialistic person.

  3. 3

    Through loving devotional service, the senses become purified and the Lord reveals Himself by His grace. The devotee understands that Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and that His activities are spiritual.

Key points from the purport
  • Actually it is a fact that the Supreme Personality of Godhead cannot be perceived by material senses as far as His form, name, quality, pastimes or paraphernalia are concerned.
  • Since the name, form, qualities and activities of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Kṛṣṇa, cannot be understood by the material senses, He is also called adhokṣaja, meaning “beyond sense perception.”
  • Because they cannot understand the actual name of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, they take it for granted that any name can be accepted.

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 4.29.3 quotesBG 18.55

This is confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (18.55). Bhaktyā mām abhijānāti yāvān yaś cāsmi tattvataḥ: one can understand in truth the Supreme Personality of Godhead only when one is engaged in devotional service.

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. yaḥhe who
  2. avijñātaunknown
  3. āhṛtaḥdescribed
  4. tasyaof him
  5. puruṣasyaof the living entity
  6. sakhāthe eternal friend
  7. īśvaraḥthe master
  8. yatbecause
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Āśraya · The summum bonum

    Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 4.29

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotee”

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 4.29

    In this verse: “friend”

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 approaching Kṛṣṇa with a desire to serve, rather than relying only on my senses and speculation?

Practice

Speak the name Kṛṣṇa today with the sincere intention of offering loving service.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Reveals Himself Through Devotional ServiceThis 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 4.29.3? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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