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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
4.29.554.29.57

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.29.56

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Kingsince 4.29.56inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraNārada Muni → King Prācīnabarhi

राजोवाच

श्रुतमन्वीक्षितं ब्रह्मन् भगवान् यदभाषत ।

नैतज्जानन्त्युपाध्याया: किं न ब्रूयुर्विदुर्यदि ॥ ५६ ॥

rājovāca

śrutam anvīkṣitaṁ brahman

bhagavān yad abhāṣata

naitaj jānanty upādhyāyāḥ

kiṁ na brūyur vidur yadi

Translation

The King replied: My dear brāhmaṇa, whatever you have said I have heard with great attention and, considering all of it, have come to the conclusion that the ācāryas [teachers] who engaged me in fruitive activity did not know this confidential knowledge. If they were aware of it, why did they not explain it to me?

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Real Knowledge Leads to Devotional Service

  1. 1

    The King listened attentively and considered Nārada’s instructions. He questioned why his earlier teachers had engaged him in fruitive activities without explaining the real goal of life.

  2. 2

    Real knowledge means searching out Kṛṣṇa, the origin of everything. All Vedic knowledge is meant for understanding Him.

  3. 3

    The real goal of life is devotional service to the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Ritualistic ceremonies without effective instruction about this goal keep people in ignorance.

Key points from the purport
  • Actually the so-called teachers or leaders of material society do not really know the goal of life.
  • The King therefore decided to reject the so-called priestly orders that simply engage their followers in the ritualistic ceremonies without giving effective instructions about the goal of life.
  • The Vaiṣṇavas, not caring for the lifeless activities of the priestly classes, take to full Kṛṣṇa consciousness and become perfect in this very life.

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 4.29.56 quotesBG 10.2

In Bhagavad-gītā (10.2) Kṛṣṇa says, aham ādir hi devānāṁ: “I am the source of the demigods.”

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. rājā uvācathe King said
  2. śrutamwas heard
  3. anvīkṣitamwas considered
  4. brahmanO brāhmaṇa
  5. bhagavānthe most powerful
  6. yatwhich
  7. abhāṣatayou have spoken
  8. nanot
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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “knowledge”, “understanding”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

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

    In this verse: “heard”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.29

    In this verse: “king”

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 is my spiritual learning helping me move toward devotional service to Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Before one spiritual activity today, pause and consciously make devotional service to Kṛṣṇa your purpose.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayReal Knowledge Leads 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.

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