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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
4.29.604.29.62

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.29.61

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

शयानमिममुत्सृज्य श्वसन्तं पुरुषो यथा ।

कर्मात्मन्याहितं भुङ्क्ते ताद‍ृशेनेतरेण वा ॥ ६१ ॥

śayānam imam utsṛjya

śvasantaṁ puruṣo yathā

karmātmany āhitaṁ bhuṅkte

tādṛśenetareṇa vā

Translation

The living entity, while dreaming, gives up the actual living body. Through the activities of his mind and intelligence, he acts in another body, either as a god or a dog. After giving up this gross body, the living entity enters either an animal body or a demigod’s body on this planet or on another planet. He thus enjoys the results of the actions of his past life.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Purify the Mind by Thinking of Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    The gross body changes, but the subtle body—mind, intelligence and ego—continues to act. Its desires and ambitions shape the living entity’s material enjoyment.

  2. 2

    Liberation means escaping the clutches of the subtle body, not merely leaving the gross body. Changing bodies alone does not end material bondage.

  3. 3

    Always thinking of Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and engaging in His worship purify consciousness. Hearing and describing His activities prepare us to return to Him.

Key points from the purport
  • Unless the living entity gets another gross body, he will have to continue in a subtle body, or a ghostly body.
  • Similarly, when the living entity takes on another gross body, he forgets the present gross body.
  • The conclusion is that the subtle body — mind, intelligence and ego — creates an atmosphere with desires and ambitions that the living entity enjoys 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· 2

The purport of SB 4.29.61 quotesBG 4.9

“One who knows the transcendental nature of My appearance and activities does not, upon leaving the body, take his birth again in this material world, but attains My eternal abode, O Arjuna.”

The purport of SB 4.29.61 quotesBG 9.34

The prescription for returning home, back to Godhead, is given by the Lord Himself in Bhagavad-gītā (9.34): “Always think of Me and become My devotee.

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. śayānamlying down on a bed
  2. imamthis body
  3. utsṛjyaafter giving up
  4. śvasantambreathing
  5. puruṣaḥthe living entity
  6. yathāas
  7. karmaactivity
  8. ātmaniin the mind
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

  • 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: “worship”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

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

    In this verse: “hearing”

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 can I give my mind more opportunity to think of Kṛṣṇa today?

Practice

Spend five minutes hearing about Kṛṣṇa’s activities, gently bringing your attention back whenever it wanders.

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 todayPurify the Mind by Thinking of KṛṣṇaThis 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 4.29.61? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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