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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
4.29.484.29.50

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.29.49

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

आस्तीर्य दर्भै: प्रागग्रै: कार्त्स्‍न्येन क्षितिमण्डलम् ।

स्तब्धो बृहद्वधान्मानी कर्म नावैषि यत्परम् ।

तत्कर्म हरितोषं यत्सा विद्या तन्मतिर्यया ॥ ४९ ॥

āstīrya darbhaiḥ prāg-agraiḥ

kārtsnyena kṣiti-maṇḍalam

stabdho bṛhad-vadhān mānī

karma nāvaiṣi yat param

tat karma hari-toṣaṁ yat

sā vidyā tan-matir yayā

Translation

My dear King, the entire world is covered with the sharp points of kuśa grass, and on the strength of this you have become proud because you have killed various types of animals in sacrifices. Because of your foolishness, you do not know that devotional service is the only way one can please the Supreme Personality of Godhead. You cannot understand this fact. Your only activities should be those that can please the Personality of Godhead. Our education should be such that we can become elevated to Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

True Work and Education Please Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    Nārada chastises the King for taking pride in sacrifices involving animal-killing. These sacrifices had only increased his false prestige.

  2. 2

    Devotional service is the only way to please the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Our activities should be directed toward pleasing Him.

  3. 3

    True education leads one to understand Kṛṣṇa and become elevated to Kṛṣṇa consciousness. Without Kṛṣṇa consciousness, activities and educational pursuits miss their true purpose.

Key points from the purport
  • In this verse the great sage Nārada Muni directly insults the King because he was engaged in performing sacrifices that entail the killing of a great number of animals.
  • Actually, anything that is done which does not lead to Kṛṣṇa consciousness is a sinful activity, and any education that does not lead one to understand Kṛṣṇa is false education.
  • If Kṛṣṇa consciousness is missing, one is simply engaged in false activities and false educational pursuits.

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. āstīryahaving covered
  2. darbhaiḥby kuśa grass
  3. prāk-agraiḥwith the points facing east
  4. kārtsnyenaaltogether
  5. kṣiti-maṇḍalamthe surface of the world
  6. stabdhaḥproud upstart
  7. bṛhatgreat
  8. vadhātby killing
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

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 4.29

    In this verse: “proud”, “pride”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 4.29

    In this verse: “understand”

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

Are my activities and learning helping me please Kṛṣṇa, or mainly increasing my sense of importance?

Practice

Read this verse’s translation once more, focusing on how your learning today can help you please Kṛṣṇa.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayTrue Work and Education Please KṛṣṇaThis 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.

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