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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
4.29.594.29.61

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.29.60

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Nārada Munisince 4.29.60inside 4 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraNārada Muni → King Prācīnabarhi

नारद उवाच

येनैवारभते कर्म तेनैवामुत्र तत्पुमान् ।

भुङ्क्ते ह्यव्यवधानेन लिङ्गेन मनसा स्वयम् ॥ ६० ॥

nārada uvāca

yenaivārabhate karma

tenaivāmutra tat pumān

bhuṅkte hy avyavadhānena

liṅgena manasā svayam

Translation

The great sage Nārada continued: The living entity acts in a gross body in this life. This body is forced to act by the subtle body, composed of mind, intelligence and ego. After the gross body is lost, the subtle body is still there to enjoy or suffer. Thus there is no change.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Continuity Beneath the Changing Gross Body

  1. 1

    The subtle body consists of mind, intelligence and ego. The gross body is its instrumental outer covering, through which the living entity acts.

  2. 2

    When the gross body dies, the subtle body continues and brings about another gross body. Its pious or impious activities create further situations of enjoyment or suffering.

  3. 3

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead, present as the Supersoul, guides the individual soul. From Him come remembrance, knowledge and forgetfulness, maintaining continuity as gross bodies change.

Key points from the purport
  • The living entity has two kinds of body — the subtle body and the gross body.
  • When the gross body is lost, or when it dies, the root of the gross body — the subtle body of mind, intelligence and ego — continues and brings about another gross body.
  • One may change the gross body, but he works in the subtle body.

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 4.29.60 quotesBG 15.15

The activities of the subtle body are also guided by the Supersoul, as explained in Bhagavad-gītā (15.15): “I am seated in everyone’s heart, and from Me come remembrance, knowledge and forgetfulness.”

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. yenaby which
  3. evacertainly
  4. ārabhatebegins
  5. karmafruitive activities
  6. tenaby that body
  7. evacertainly
  8. amutrain the next life
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “knowledge”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 4.29

    In this verse: “suffering”

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 might recognizing the mind’s role in shaping future experience affect the thoughts I encourage?

Practice

Pause before one action today and notice the intention in your mind that is directing it.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayContinuity Beneath the Changing Gross BodyThis 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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