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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
4.29.30-314.29.33

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.29.32

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

दु:खेष्वेकतरेणापि दैवभूतात्महेतुषु ।

जीवस्य न व्यवच्छेद: स्याच्चेत्तत्तत्प्रतिक्रिया ॥ ३२ ॥

duḥkheṣv ekatareṇāpi

daiva-bhūtātma-hetuṣu

jīvasya na vyavacchedaḥ

syāc cet tat-tat-pratikriyā

Translation

The living entities are trying to counteract different miserable conditions pertaining to providence, other living entities or the body and mind. Still, they must remain conditioned by the laws of nature, despite all attempts to counter these laws.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Direct Your Effort Toward Kṛṣṇa Consciousness

  1. 1

    Living entities continually try to counter suffering caused by providence, other beings, and the body and mind. Despite these efforts, they remain conditioned by the laws of nature.

  2. 2

    Material attempts to remove one misery often bring another, as seeking wealth can replace poverty with exhausting struggle. The purport recommends contentment with one’s present position and directing energy toward Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

  3. 3

    Developing Kṛṣṇa consciousness is more valuable than endlessly rearranging material conditions. Kṛṣṇa promises that His devotee never perishes, even amid miseries beyond the devotee’s control.

Key points from the purport
  • Just as a dog wanders here and there for a piece of bread or punishment, the living entity perpetually wanders about trying to be happy and planning in so many ways to counteract material misery.
  • We can actually see in our daily lives how we are forced to make plans to drive away miserable conditions.
  • The process of improvement means accepting another miserable condition.

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· 2

The purport of SB 4.29.32 quotesSB 1.5.18

As far as happiness derived from sense enjoyment is concerned, it can be obtained automatically in course of time, just as in course of time we obtain miseries even though we do not desire them.”

The purport of SB 4.29.32 quotesBG 9.31

Kṛṣṇa therefore promises, kaunteya pratijānīhi na me bhaktaḥ praṇaśyati: “O son of Kuntī, declare it boldly that My devotee never perishes.”

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. duḥkheṣuin the matter of distresses
  2. ekatareṇafrom one kind
  3. apieven
  4. daivaprovidence
  5. bhūtaother living entities
  6. ātmathe body and mind
  7. hetuṣuon account of
  8. jīvasyaof the living entity
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “wealth”, “material”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotee”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

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

    In this verse: “suffering”

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

How much of my energy goes into rearranging material conditions rather than developing Kṛṣṇa consciousness?

Practice

Set aside five minutes you would otherwise spend planning greater material comfort, and use them to study this teaching on devotional service.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

The purport quotesSB 1.5.18

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 4.29's connections

Live this todayDirect Your Effort Toward Kṛṣṇa ConsciousnessThis 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 4.29.32? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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