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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
4.29.504.29.52

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.29.51

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

स वै प्रियतमश्चात्मा यतो न भयमण्वपि ।

इति वेद स वै विद्वान्यो विद्वान्स गुरुर्हरि: ॥ ५१ ॥

sa vai priyatamaś cātmā

yato na bhayam aṇv api

iti veda sa vai vidvān

yo vidvān sa gurur hariḥ

Translation

One who is engaged in devotional service has not the least fear in material existence. This is because the Supreme Personality of Godhead is the Supersoul and friend of everyone. One who knows this secret is actually educated, and one thus educated can become the spiritual master of the world. One who is an actually bona fide spiritual master, representative of Kṛṣṇa, is not different from Kṛṣṇa.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Take Shelter of a Pure Devotee

  1. 1

    One engaged in devotional service has no fear in material existence, knowing the Supreme Personality of Godhead as the Supersoul and friend of everyone. Knowing this is real education.

  2. 2

    The bona fide spiritual master is accepted as identical with the Lord because he is His most confidential servant. Consulting such a spiritual master means consulting the Supreme Personality of Godhead personally.

  3. 3

    Learning and birth alone do not qualify someone to become a spiritual master; pure devotion to the Lord is essential. Success in life means accepting a spiritual master who knows Kṛṣṇa as the only supreme beloved personality.

Key points from the purport
  • The spiritual master is accepted as identical with the Supreme Personality of Godhead because he is the most confidential servant of the Lord (kintu prabhor yaḥ priya eva tasya).
  • One who is a spiritual master in accordance with the above descriptions of devotional service is to be understood as the Supreme Personality of Godhead personally present.
  • According to the words mentioned here (gurur hariḥ), consulting a bona fide spiritual master means consulting the Supreme Personality of Godhead personally.

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. saḥHe
  2. vaicertainly
  3. priya-tamaḥthe most dear
  4. caalso
  5. ātmāSupersoul
  6. yataḥfrom whom
  7. nanever
  8. bhayamfear
3

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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 4.29

    In this verse: “fear”

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

Do I value pure devotion to Kṛṣṇa more than learning or social position when considering spiritual guidance?

Practice

Write down the essential qualification given here for a spiritual master: pure devotion to Kṛṣṇa.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayTake Shelter of a Pure DevoteeThis 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 4.29.51? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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