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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 4.29.71

Who is speaking and story frame

सुप्तिमूर्च्छोपतापेषु प्राणायनविघातत: ।

नेहतेऽहमिति ज्ञानं मृत्युप्रज्वारयोरपि ॥ ७१ ॥

supti-mūrcchopatāpeṣu

prāṇāyana-vighātataḥ

nehate ’ham iti jñānaṁ

mṛtyu-prajvārayor api

Translation

When the living entity is in deep sleep, when he faints, when there is some great shock on account of severe loss, at the time of death, or when the body temperature is very high, the movement of the life air is arrested. At that time the living entity loses knowledge of identifying the body with the self.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Serve Beyond Gross and Subtle Identification

  1. 1

    In deep sleep or fainting, the living entity forgets identification with the gross body. Such forgetfulness does not mean that the soul ceases to exist.

  2. 2

    Both sleeping and ordinary waking are creations of the illusory energy. In ignorance, we act sometimes in relation to the gross body and sometimes to the subtle body.

  3. 3

    By Kṛṣṇa’s grace, we can gradually learn to act in terms of the spiritual body. Devotional service means engaging the spiritual body and senses in the Lord’s service, ending material actions and reactions.

Key points from the purport
  • When a person is in deep sleep or when he has fainted, he forgets his gross body.
  • At the time of death, when the temperature of the body rises to 107 degrees, the living entity falls into a coma and is unable to identify his gross body.
  • In such cases, the life air that moves within the body is choked up, and the living entity forgets his identification with the gross 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.

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. suptiin deep sleep
  2. mūrcchafainting
  3. upatāpeṣuor in great shock
  4. prāṇa-ayanaof the movement of the life air
  5. vighātataḥfrom prevention
  6. nanot
  7. īhatethinks of
  8. ahamI
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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”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 4.29

    In this verse: “death”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

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 use my senses in the Lord’s service rather than remain absorbed in bodily identification?

Practice

Use your voice today to offer a short prayer of service to Kṛṣṇa.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayServe Beyond Gross and Subtle IdentificationThis 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 4.29.71? Get an answer from the verses themselves.