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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.
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Canto 4 · Chapter 29: Talks Between Nārada and King Prācīnabarhi
4.29.734.29.75

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.29.74

Sarga· Creation
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

एवं पञ्चविधं लिङ्गं त्रिवृत् षोडश विस्तृतम् ।

एष चेतनया युक्तो जीव इत्यभिधीयते ॥ ७४ ॥

evaṁ pañca-vidhaṁ liṅgaṁ

tri-vṛt ṣoḍaśa vistṛtam

eṣa cetanayā yukto

jīva ity abhidhīyate

Translation

The five sense objects, the five sense organs, the five knowledge-acquiring senses and the mind are the sixteen material expansions. These combine with the living entity and are influenced by the three modes of material nature. Thus the existence of the conditioned soul is understood.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Soul Struggles Under Material Conditioning

  1. 1

    Living entities are Kṛṣṇa’s eternal, fragmental parts. In conditioned life, they struggle hard with the senses, including the mind.

  2. 2

    The five sense objects, five sense organs, five knowledge-acquiring senses and mind form sixteen material expansions. Combined with the living entity and influenced by the three modes, they constitute conditioned existence.

  3. 3

    When consciousness is agitated by the three modes of material nature, the subtle body becomes possible. Material conditions thus shape the development of the subtle and gross bodies.

Key points from the purport
  • Here it is also explained that the living entity comes in contact with the sixteen material elements and is influenced by the three modes of material nature.
  • The total material existence is first agitated by the three modes of material nature, and these become the living conditions of the living entity.
  • According to Śrī Madhvācārya, when consciousness, the living force in the heart, is agitated by the three modes of material nature, then the subtle body of the living entity, consisting of the mind, the sense objects, the five senses that acquire knowledge and the five senses for acting in the material condition, becomes possible.

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 4.29.74 quotesBG 15.7

Lord Kṛṣṇa says in Bhagavad-gītā (15.7): “The living entities in this conditioned world are My eternal, fragmental parts.

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. evamthus
  2. pañca-vidhamthe five sense objects
  3. liṅgamthe subtle body
  4. tri-vṛtinfluenced by the three modes
  5. ṣoḍaśasixteen
  6. vistṛtamexpanded
  7. eṣaḥthis
  8. cetanayāwith the living entity
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Sarga · The creation of the universe

    Where does the universe come from? · Subject 1 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “knowledge-acquiring”

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 does remembering that I am Kṛṣṇa’s eternal part change the way I view my struggle with the mind?

Practice

During one restless moment today, pause and remember: “I am Kṛṣṇa’s eternal part, not merely this struggling mind.”

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Soul Struggles Under Material ConditioningThis 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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