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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
4.29.644.29.66

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.29.65

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

तेनास्य ताद‍ृशं राजँल्लिङ्गिनो देहसम्भवम् ।

श्रद्धत्स्वाननुभूतोऽर्थो न मन: स्प्रष्टुमर्हति ॥ ६५ ॥

tenāsya tādṛśaṁ rājaḻ

liṅgino deha-sambhavam

śraddhatsvānanubhūto ’rtho

na manaḥ spraṣṭum arhati

Translation

Therefore, my dear King, the living entity, who has a subtle mental covering, develops all kinds of thoughts and images because of his previous body. Take this from me as certain. There is no possibility of concocting anything mentally without having perceived it in the previous body.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotional Service Restores Our Natural Position

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is the supreme enjoyer. The living entity’s desire to imitate Him and lord it over material nature begins his downfall.

  2. 2

    The mind is the storehouse of past material desires, which give rise to different bodies. Purifying the mind through Kṛṣṇa consciousness leads to a spiritual body.

  3. 3

    Every living entity is constitutionally an eternal servant of Kṛṣṇa. One who serves the Lord with body, mind and words is considered liberated even in this life.

Key points from the purport
  • As long as he is within this material atmosphere, he has a subtle vehicle in the form of the mind, which is the stockpile of all kinds of material desires.
  • The conclusion is that the mind is the storehouse of our past desires, and we have this present body due to our past desires.
  • The devotee is therefore above the three modes of material nature and is even transcendental to the brāhmaṇa platform.

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 4.29.65 quotesBG 14.26

This is also confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (14.26): “One who always engages in the spiritual activities of unalloyed devotional service at once transcends the modes of material nature and is elevated to the spiritual platform.”

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. tenatherefore
  2. asyaof the living entity
  3. tādṛśamlike that
  4. rājanO King
  5. liṅginaḥwho has a subtle mental covering
  6. deha-sambhavamproduced in the previous body
  7. śraddhatsvaaccept it as fact
  8. ananubhūtaḥnot perceived
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.29

    In this verse: “king”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 4.29

    In this verse: “purifying”

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

Where can I replace a desire to control or enjoy with a desire to serve Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

Choose one small act of service to Kṛṣṇa today and perform it with deliberate attention and willingness.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotional Service Restores Our Natural PositionThis 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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