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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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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
4.29.804.29.82

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.29.81

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 4.29.80inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

प्राचीनबर्ही राजर्षि: प्रजासर्गाभिरक्षणे ।

आदिश्य पुत्रानगमत्तपसे कपिलाश्रमम् ॥ ८१ ॥

prācīnabarhī rājarṣiḥ

prajā-sargābhirakṣaṇe

ādiśya putrān agamat

tapase kapilāśramam

Translation

In the presence of his ministers, the saintly King Prācīnabarhi left orders for his sons to protect the citizens. He then left home and went off to undergo austerities in a holy place known as Kapilāśrama.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Make Spiritual Advancement Your Prime Duty

  1. 1

    Convinced of life's goal by Nārada's instructions, King Prācīnabarhi did not wait for his sons to return. He left orders for them to protect the citizens and departed for spiritual advancement.

  2. 2

    The purport explains protection as organizing citizens within the four varṇas and four āśramas. Good government must help these divisions follow their regulative principles, rather than rely only on passing laws.

  3. 3

    The King went to Kapilāśrama to undergo austerities and take to devotional service. This holy place, where Lord Kapila performed austerities, is known as Gaṅgā-sāgara.

Key points from the purport
  • When the saintly King Prācīnabarhi was induced by the great sage Nārada to leave home and take to the devotional service of the Lord, his sons had not yet returned from their austerities in the water.
  • However, he did not wait for their return but simply left messages to the effect that his sons were to protect the mass of citizens.
  • He simply left instructions for his sons and went off for the purpose of spiritual advancement.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. prācīnabarhiḥKing Prācīnabarhi
  2. rāja-ṛṣiḥthe saintly King
  3. prajā-sargathe mass of citizens
  4. abhirakṣaṇeto protect
  5. ādiśyaafter ordering
  6. putrānhis sons
  7. agamatdeparted
  8. tapasefor undergoing austerities
  9. kapila-āśramamto the holy place known as Kapilāśrama
3

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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.29

    In this verse: “king”, “citizens”, “government”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

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

    In this verse: “principles”, “varṇas”, “āśramas”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 4.29

    In this verse: “protect”

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

What unnecessary delay keeps me from giving spiritual advancement its proper priority?

Practice

Arrange one necessary responsibility today so that you can keep a definite time for devotional service.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 4.29's connections

Live this todayMake Spiritual Advancement Your Prime DutyThis 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 4.29.81? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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