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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
4.29.784.29.80

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.29.79

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
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

अतस्तदपवादार्थं भज सर्वात्मना हरिम् ।

पश्यंस्तदात्मकं विश्वं स्थित्युत्पत्त्यप्यया यत: ॥ ७९ ॥

atas tad apavādārthaṁ

bhaja sarvātmanā harim

paśyaṁs tad-ātmakaṁ viśvaṁ

sthity-utpatty-apyayā yataḥ

Translation

You should always know that this cosmic manifestation is created, maintained and annihilated by the will of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Consequently, everything within this cosmic manifestation is under the control of the Lord. To be enlightened by this perfect knowledge, one should always engage himself in the devotional service of the Lord.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotional Service Reveals Our True Position

  1. 1

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead creates, maintains and annihilates the cosmic manifestation. Everything within it is under His control.

  2. 2

    When we accept devotional service, the Lord gradually reveals Himself and our spiritual position. Like sunshine revealing both the sun and the world, Kṛṣṇa consciousness reveals Kṛṣṇa and everything related to Him.

  3. 3

    We are part and parcel of the Lord. Our duty is to surrender to Him and engage in His transcendental loving service.

Key points from the purport
  • When we engage ourselves in the devotional service of the Lord to become Kṛṣṇa conscious, we understand not only Kṛṣṇa but everything related to Kṛṣṇa.
  • In Kṛṣṇa consciousness we can understand that the entire material creation is created by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, maintained by Him, annihilated by Him and absorbed in Him.
  • Everything is under the control of the Lord, and therefore our only duty is to surrender unto the Supreme and engage in His transcendental loving service.

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 4.29.79 quotesBG 7.1

Lord Kṛṣṇa explains in the Seventh Chapter of the Bhagavad-gītā (7.1): “Now hear, O son of Pṛthā [Arjuna], how by practicing yoga in full consciousness of Me, with mind attached to Me, you can know Me in full, free from doubt.”

Quoted in the purport ofSB 11.3.37

To be enlightened by this perfect knowledge, one should always engage himself in the devotional service of the Lord.”

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. ataḥtherefore
  2. tatthat
  3. apavāda-arthamto counteract
  4. bhajaengage in devotional service
  5. sarva-ātmanāwith all your senses
  6. harimunto the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  7. paśyanseeing
  8. tatof the Lord
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Āśraya · The summum bonum

    Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 4.29

    In this verse: “devotional service”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “knowledge”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 4.29

    In this verse: “duty”

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 would remembering that I am part and parcel of Kṛṣṇa change my approach to service?

Practice

Before one act of devotional service today, pause to remember that you belong to the Lord and depend on Him.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotional Service Reveals Our True 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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