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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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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
4.29.39-404.29.42-44

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.29.41

Ūti· What drives us to act
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

एतैरुपद्रुतो नित्यं जीवलोक: स्वभावजै: ।

न करोति हरेर्नूनं कथामृतनिधौ रतिम् ॥ ४१ ॥

etair upadruto nityaṁ

jīva-lokaḥ svabhāvajaiḥ

na karoti harer nūnaṁ

kathāmṛta-nidhau ratim

Translation

Because the conditioned soul is always disturbed by the bodily necessities such as hunger and thirst, he has very little time to cultivate attachment to hearing the nectarean words of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Cultivate Devotion Through Devotee Association

  1. 1

    The conditioned soul is constantly disturbed by bodily necessities such as hunger and thirst. These disturbances leave little time to develop attachment to hearing the Lord’s nectarean words.

  2. 2

    A beginner cannot cultivate Kṛṣṇa consciousness through solitary practice without devotee association. Bodily demands disturb such attempts.

  3. 3

    Merely presenting oneself as a devotee does not establish Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Addiction to illicit sex, intoxication, gambling and meat-eating prevents its development.

Key points from the purport
  • Unless one is associated with devotees, he cannot cultivate Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
  • In other words, one who is influenced by sinful activity cannot be accepted as a person in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.
  • A person addicted to sinful life cannot develop Kṛṣṇa consciousness, as indicated in this verse.

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. etaiḥby these
  2. upadrutaḥdisturbed
  3. nityamalways
  4. jīva-lokaḥthe conditioned soul in the material world
  5. sva-bhāva-jaiḥnatural
  6. na karotidoes not do
  7. hareḥof the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  8. nūnamcertainly
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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: “attachment”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

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

    In this verse: “hearing”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotee”

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 association with advanced devotees help me protect time for hearing about the Lord?

Practice

Contact a devotee today and arrange a time to hear about the Lord together.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayCultivate Devotion Through Devotee AssociationThis 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 4.29.41? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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