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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
4.29.76-774.29.79

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.29.78

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

यदाक्षैश्चरितान् ध्यायन् कर्माण्याचिनुतेऽसकृत् ।

सति कर्मण्यविद्यायां बन्ध: कर्मण्यनात्मन: ॥ ७८ ॥

yadākṣaiś caritān dhyāyan

karmāṇy ācinute ’sakṛt

sati karmaṇy avidyāyāṁ

bandhaḥ karmaṇy anātmanaḥ

Translation

As long as we desire to enjoy sense gratification, we create material activities. When the living entity acts in the material field, he enjoys the senses, and while enjoying the senses, he creates another series of material activities. In this way the living entity becomes entrapped as a conditioned soul.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Work for the Lord, Not Sense Gratification

  1. 1

    Plans for sense gratification are recorded in the mind as seeds of fruitive activities. Through thinking, feeling and willing, we create conditions for future material bodies.

  2. 2

    Acting only for the satisfaction of Viṣṇu brings no bondage from material activity. Acting otherwise entraps us in one material activity after another.

  3. 3

    Material activity should be accepted only to maintain body and soul together. The rest of our time should be devoted to the transcendental loving service of the Lord.

Key points from the purport
  • While in the subtle body, we create many plans to enjoy sense gratification.
  • In conditional life the living entity creates a series of bodies one after another, and this is called karma-bandhana.
  • Instead of plunging oneself into the ocean of material activity, one should accept material activity only to maintain body and soul together.

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 4.29.78 quotesBG 3.9

As explained in Bhagavad-gītā (3.9), yajñārthāt karmaṇo ’nyatra loko ’yaṁ karma-bandhanaḥ: if we act only for the satisfaction of Viṣṇu, there is no bondage due to material activity, but if we act otherwise, we become entrapped by one material activity after another.

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. yadāwhen
  2. akṣaiḥby the senses
  3. caritānpleasures enjoyed
  4. dhyāyanthinking of
  5. karmāṇiactivities
  6. ācinuteperforms
  7. asakṛtalways
  8. sati karmaṇiwhen material affairs continue
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: “sense gratification”, “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 much of my planning serves unnecessary enjoyment rather than the Lord's satisfaction?

Practice

Use five minutes you would otherwise spend pursuing unnecessary enjoyment for loving service to the Lord.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayWork for the Lord, Not Sense GratificationThis 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 4.29.78? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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