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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.
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Canto 4 · Chapter 29: Talks Between Nārada and King Prācīnabarhi
4.29.814.29.83

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.29.82

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

तत्रैकाग्रमना धीरो गोविन्दचरणाम्बुजम् ।

विमुक्तसङ्गोऽनुभजन् भक्त्या तत्साम्यतामगात् ॥ ८२ ॥

tatraikāgra-manā dhīro

govinda-caraṇāmbujam

vimukta-saṅgo ’nubhajan

bhaktyā tat-sāmyatām agāt

Translation

Having undergone austerities and penances at Kapilāśrama, King Prācīnabarhi attained full liberation from all material designations. He constantly engaged in the transcendental loving service of the Lord and attained a spiritual position qualitatively equal to that of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Liberation Means Loving Service to the Lord

  1. 1

    Through austerities and constant loving service, King Prācīnabarhi became free from material designations. He attained a spiritual position qualitatively equal to that of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  2. 2

    The Lord is always a person, and spiritual perfection brings a body of the same spiritual nature, called sac-cid-ānanda-vigraha. This spiritual body never mixes with material elements.

  3. 3

    Although māyā is difficult to overcome, those who surrender to Kṛṣṇa can cross beyond it. Freedom from material bondage is a platform for serving the Lord, requiring sobriety and heroic determination.

Key points from the purport
  • In other words, the living entity can be liberated from the material condition at any moment, provided that he wishes to do so.
  • As soon as the living entity engages in the transcendental loving service of the Lord, he immediately attains freedom from all material conditions (sa guṇān samatītyaitān brahma-bhūyāya kalpate).
  • On the brahma-bhūta platform the living entity is liberated from material bondage, and he engages in the service of the Lord.

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 4.29.82 quotesBG 7.14

But those who have surrendered unto Me can easily cross beyond it.”

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. tatrathere
  2. eka-agra-manāḥwith full attention
  3. dhīraḥsober
  4. govindaof Kṛṣṇa
  5. caraṇa-ambujamunto the lotus feet
  6. vimuktafreed from
  7. saṅgaḥmaterial association
  8. anubhajancontinuously engaging in devotional service
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”, “māyā”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 4.29

    In this verse: “king”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 4.29

    In this verse: “free from”

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

Do I see spiritual freedom as an opportunity to serve the Lord rather than merely escape difficulty?

Practice

Give full attention to one act of loving service today, setting aside one distraction.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayLiberation Means Loving Service to the LordThis 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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