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

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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
4.29.36-374.29.39-40

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.29.38

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Nārada Munisince 4.29.34inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraNārada Muni → King Prācīnabarhi

सोऽचिरादेव राजर्षे स्यादच्युतकथाश्रय: ।

श‍ृण्वत: श्रद्दधानस्य नित्यदा स्यादधीयत: ॥ ३८ ॥

so ’cirād eva rājarṣe

syād acyuta-kathāśrayaḥ

śṛṇvataḥ śraddadhānasya

nityadā syād adhīyataḥ

Translation

O best of kings, one who is faithful, who is always hearing the glories of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is always engaged in the culture of Kṛṣṇa consciousness and in hearing of the Lord’s activities, very soon becomes eligible to see the Supreme Personality of Godhead face to face.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Hear the Lord’s Glories Faithfully

  1. 1

    Constant loving service to Vāsudeva means constantly hearing the Lord’s glories. Such hearing is central to cultivating Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

  2. 2

    The principles of bhakti-yoga are the only means of attaining perfection. Simply hearing the Lord’s glories elevates one to the transcendental position.

  3. 3

    One who faithfully and continually hears the Lord’s activities soon becomes eligible to see the Supreme Personality of Godhead face to face.

Key points from the purport
  • Constant engagement in the transcendental loving service of Vāsudeva means constantly hearing the glories of the Lord.
  • The principles of bhakti-yoga — śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ smaraṇaṁ pāda-sevanam/ arcanaṁ vandanaṁ dāsyaṁ sakhyam ātma-nivedanam — are the only means by which perfection can be attained.
  • Simply by hearing of the glories of the Lord, one is elevated to the transcendental position.

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. saḥthat
  2. acirātvery soon
  3. evacertainly
  4. rāja-ṛṣeO best of kings
  5. syātbecomes
  6. acyutaof the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  7. kathānarrations
  8. āśrayaḥdepending on
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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 4.29

    In this verse: “hearing”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.29

    In this verse: “kings”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “bhakti-yoga”

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 can I give more faithful attention to hearing the Lord’s glories?

Practice

Set aside five uninterrupted minutes today to hear or read about the Lord’s activities.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHear the Lord’s Glories FaithfullyThis 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 4.29.38? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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