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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.29.9

Who is speaking and story frame

अक्षिणी नासिके आस्यमिति पञ्चपुर: कृता: ।

दक्षिणा दक्षिण: कर्ण उत्तरा चोत्तर: स्मृत: ।

पश्चिमे इत्यधोद्वारौ गुदं शिश्नमिहोच्यते ॥ ९ ॥

akṣiṇī nāsike āsyam

iti pañca puraḥ kṛtāḥ

dakṣiṇā dakṣiṇaḥ karṇa

uttarā cottaraḥ smṛtaḥ

paścime ity adho dvārau

gudaṁ śiśnam ihocyate

Translation

Two eyes, two nostrils and a mouth — all together five — are situated in the front. The right ear is accepted as the southern gate, and the left ear is the northern gate. The two holes, or gates, situated in the west are known as the rectum and genital organ.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Body’s Gates Have Different Positions

  1. 1

    The two eyes, two nostrils and mouth form the five gates situated in the front of the body.

  2. 2

    The right ear is the southern gate, and the left ear is the northern gate. The rectum and genital organ are the two western gates.

  3. 3

    The eastern side is considered most important because the sun rises there. The eyes, nose and mouth are therefore described as very important bodily gates.

Key points from the purport
  • Of all sides, the eastern is considered most important, primarily because the sun rises from that direction.
  • The gates on the eastern side — the eyes, nose and mouth — are thus very important gates in the body.

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. akṣiṇītwo eyes
  2. nāsiketwo nostrils
  3. āsyamthe mouth
  4. itithus
  5. pañcafive
  6. puraḥon the front
  7. kṛtāḥmade
  8. dakṣiṇāsouthern gate
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

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 identifying the gates help me understand the description of the body?

Practice

Sketch a simple outline of the body today and label the nine gates with the positions given in this verse.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Body’s Gates Have Different PositionsThis 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 4.29.9? Get an answer from the verses themselves.