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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
4.29.514.29.53

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.29.52

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Nārada Munisince 4.29.52inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraNārada Muni → King Prācīnabarhi

नारद उवाच

प्रश्न एवं हि सञ्छिन्नो भवत: पुरुषर्षभ ।

अत्र मे वदतो गुह्यं निशामय सुनिश्चितम् ॥ ५२ ॥

nārada uvāca

praśna evaṁ hi sañchinno

bhavataḥ puruṣarṣabha

atra me vadato guhyaṁ

niśāmaya suniścitam

Translation

The great saint Nārada continued: O great personality, I have replied properly about all that you have asked me. Now hear another narration that is accepted by saintly persons and is very confidential.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Move From Understanding to Devotional Service

  1. 1

    Nārada wanted the King to give up fruitive activity and take to devotional service immediately. Although the King understood the instructions, he was still not ready to give up his engagements.

  2. 2

    People may accept a bona fide spiritual master and listen to him, yet hesitate when asked to fully engage in devotional service. The spiritual master continues instructing until the disciple understands that materialistic fruitive activity is not beneficial.

  3. 3

    Devotional service should begin from the beginning of life. Without Kṛṣṇa consciousness and devotional service, time is simply wasted in the fruitive activities of material existence.

Key points from the purport
  • Śrī Nārada Muni is personally acting as the spiritual master of King Barhiṣmān.
  • It was Nārada Muni’s intention that through his instructions the King would immediately give up all engagement in fruitive activity and take to devotional service.
  • Nārada Muni therefore decided to relate another allegory to the King so that he might be induced to give up family life within material existence.

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· 1

The purport of SB 4.29.52 quotesSB 7.6.1

Actually, one should take to devotional service from the beginning of life, as Prahlāda Mahārāja advised: kaumāra ācaret prājño dharmān bhāgavatān iha.

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

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. nāradaḥ uvācaNārada said
  2. praśnaḥquestion
  3. evamthus
  4. hicertainly
  5. sañchinnaḥanswered
  6. bhavataḥyour
  7. puruṣa-ṛṣabhaO great personality
  8. atrahere
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

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

    In this verse: “narration”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “materialistic”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”

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

What am I waiting for before acting on the devotional instructions I already understand?

Practice

Choose one devotional instruction you have been postponing and take one small step to follow it today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 4.29's connections

Live this todayMove From Understanding to Devotional ServiceThis 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 4.29.52? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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