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

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

How to study this verse, in six steps

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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

4.29.45 4.29.47

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.29.46

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection

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

यदा यस्यानुगृह्णाति भगवानात्मभावित: ।

स जहाति मतिं लोके वेदे च परिनिष्ठिताम् ॥ ४६ ॥

yadā yasyānugṛhṇāti

bhagavān ātma-bhāvitaḥ

sa jahāti matiṁ loke

vede ca pariniṣṭhitām

Translation

When a person is fully engaged in devotional service, he is favored by the Lord, who bestows His causeless mercy. At such a time, the awakened devotee gives up all material activities and ritualistic performances mentioned in the Vedas.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Loving Service Invites the Lord’s Mercy

1
Pure devotional service is free from mental speculation, fruitive activity and material desires. It means serving the Supreme Personality of Godhead through purified senses.
2
A pure devotee constantly thinks of the Lord and serves Him with love and affection. Lord Kṛṣṇa guides the sincere devotee from within, giving the understanding needed to come to Him.
3
By the mercy of the guru and Kṛṣṇa, one receives the seed of devotional service. Beyond material designations, one realizes oneself as the eternal servant of the servant of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Key points from the purport

Because the Supreme Personality of Godhead dictates to the pure devotee from within, the devotee is saved from all material activities.
A pure devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead is always thinking of how the fallen, conditioned souls can be delivered.
When one is engaged in devotional service, he is no longer attracted to material activities.

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· 3

The purport of SB 4.29.46 quotesBG 9.25

Lord Kṛṣṇa says in Bhagavad-gītā (9.25): “Those who worship the demigods will take birth among the demigods; those who worship ghosts and spirits will take birth among such beings; those who worship ancestors go to the ancestors; and those who worship Me will live with Me.”

The purport of SB 4.29.46 quotesBG 10.10

The sincere devotee is always helped by the Supersoul, who resides within the heart of every living entity, as Lord Kṛṣṇa confirms in Bhagavad-gītā (10.10): “To those who are constantly devoted and worship Me with love, I give the understanding by which they can come to Me.”

Quoted in the purport ofCC Madhya 11.118

This instruction was given by Nārada Gosvāmī to King Prācīnabarhi in connection with the story of Purañjana.

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

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

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

yadāwhen
yasyawhom
anugṛhṇātifavors by causeless mercy
bhagavānthe Supreme Personality of Godhead
ātma-bhāvitaḥrealized by a devotee
saḥsuch a devotee
jahātigives up
matimconsciousness

Key ideas in this verse

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

Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord
How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10
Kṛpā · Divine mercy
Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 4.29
In this verse: “mercy”, “causeless”, “favored”
Bhakti · Devotion and loving service
How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 4.29
In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotee”
Moha · Material attachment
The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 4.29
In this verse: “material”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I give more loving attention to Kṛṣṇa in my service?

Practice

Set aside one quiet minute today to think of Lord Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet and your position as His servant.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayLoving Service Invites the Lord’s MercyThis 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 4.29.46? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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