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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.29.57

Who is speaking and story frame

संशयोऽत्र तु मे विप्र सञ्छिन्नस्तत्कृतो महान् ।

ऋषयोऽपि हि मुह्यन्ति यत्र नेन्द्रियवृत्तय: ॥ ५७ ॥

saṁśayo ’tra tu me vipra

sañchinnas tat-kṛto mahān

ṛṣayo ’pi hi muhyanti

yatra nendriya-vṛttayaḥ

Translation

My dear brāhmaṇa, there are contradictions between your instructions and those of my spiritual teachers who engaged me in fruitive activities. I now can understand the distinction between devotional service, knowledge and renunciation. I had some doubts about them, but you have now very kindly dissipated all these doubts. I can now understand how even the great sages are bewildered by the real purpose of life. Of course, there is no question of sense gratification.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Choose Loving Service Over Sense Gratification

  1. 1

    Nārada’s instructions cleared the King’s doubts about devotional service, knowledge and renunciation. Even learned sages can be bewildered about the real purpose of life.

  2. 2

    People are generally attracted to rituals that promise heavenly enjoyment. Devotional service is different: it is transcendental loving service to the Lord, not sense gratification.

  3. 3

    The purport directs us to follow the Supreme Personality of Godhead’s instruction to surrender unto Him. He promises deliverance from sinful reactions and tells us not to fear.

Key points from the purport
  • People generally are attracted by these activities, and very rarely is a person attracted to devotional service, as Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu confirms.
  • In devotional service there is no sense gratification, but only transcendental loving service to the Lord.
  • Consequently, the so-called priests engaged in sense gratification do not very much like devotional service.

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 4.29.57 quotesBG 18.66

I shall deliver you from all sinful reaction.

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. saṁśayaḥdoubt
  2. atrahere
  3. tubut
  4. memy
  5. vipraO brāhmaṇa
  6. sañchinnaḥcleared
  7. tat-kṛtaḥdone by that
  8. mahānvery great
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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “knowledge”, “understand”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “sense gratification”

  • 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

Am I approaching the Lord for personal enjoyment or to offer loving service?

Practice

Offer one small act of service to the Lord today without asking for a material reward.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayChoose Loving Service Over Sense GratificationThis 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 4.29.57? Get an answer from the verses themselves.