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

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Canto 1 · Creation · 19 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 1 · Chapter 2: Divinity and Divine Service
1.2.51.2.7

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.2.6

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.2.2inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

स वै पुंसां परो धर्मो यतो भक्तिरधोक्षजे ।

अहैतुक्यप्रतिहता ययात्मा सुप्रसीदति ॥ ६ ॥

sa vai puṁsāṁ paro dharmo

yato bhaktir adhokṣaje

ahaituky apratihatā

yayātmā suprasīdati

Translation

The supreme occupation [dharma] for all humanity is that by which men can attain to loving devotional service unto the transcendent Lord. Such devotional service must be unmotivated and uninterrupted to completely satisfy the self.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Loving Devotional Service Completely Satisfies the Self

  1. 1

    The supreme occupation is loving devotional service to Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Unlike temporary material enjoyment, this service leads to eternal life full of bliss and knowledge.

  2. 2

    Devotional service must be unmotivated and uninterrupted to completely satisfy the self. Seeking material gain through devotion obstructs its progress, so service should be free from desires for material enjoyment.

  3. 3

    Kṛṣṇa is the complete whole, and every living being is His part and parcel. Our eternal relationship is one of servant and served, and loving service gradually helps us realize this relationship.

Key points from the purport
  • But devotional service to the Supreme Lord, which leads one to eternal, blissful and all-cognizant life, is called the superior quality of occupation.
  • Therefore devotional service to the Lord must be pure in quality, i.e., without the least desire for material enjoyment.
  • One should, therefore, accept the superior quality of occupation in the form of the devotional service of the Lord without any tinge of unnecessary desire, fruitive action and philosophical speculation.

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· 5

Quoted in the purport ofSB 4.4.28

Therefore Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.2.6) explains that one has to achieve real satisfaction (yayātmā suprasīdati), but ātmā — the body, mind and soul — all become completely satisfied only if one develops devotional service to the Absolute Truth (sa vai puṁsāṁ paro dharmo yato bhaktir adhokṣaje).

Quoted in the purport ofSB 4.24.57

As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.2.6), yayātmā suprasīdati.

Quoted in the purport ofSB 4.24.69

Although one may be situated in a lowly position, he can execute devotional service under any circumstance, as stated, ahaituky apratihatā: “Devotional service cannot be checked by any material condition.”

Quoted in the purport ofSB 5.7.11

By rendering devotional service unto the Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, one immediately acquires causeless knowledge and detachment from the world.”

Quoted in the purport ofSB 6.2.24-25

The transcendental position of devotional service is also confirmed in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.2.6).

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

Concern → Purpose. A spiritually urgent question emerges for the age of Kali.

Chapters 1–3 of Canto 1: The sages ask the ultimate questions. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 2: Divinity and Divine Service

Sūta explains how hearing about Kṛṣṇa and rendering devotional service purify the heart.

Back to this verse in chapter 1.2
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. saḥthat
  2. vaicertainly
  3. puṁsāmfor mankind
  4. paraḥsublime
  5. dharmaḥoccupation
  6. yataḥby which
  7. bhaktiḥdevotional service
  8. adhokṣajeunto the Transcendence
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 1.2

    In this verse: “devotional service”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 1.2

    In this verse: “dharma”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 1.2

    In this verse: “knowledge”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I seeking material gain through devotional service, or learning to serve Kṛṣṇa without expecting anything in return?

Practice

Today, spend a few quiet minutes reflecting on your eternal relationship with Kṛṣṇa as His servant, without asking for material gain.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

His recorded lectures on this verse, and the talks where he quotes it.

22 lectures given on it · quoted in 158 more lectures. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Show 20 more lectures on it
Quoted in 158 other lectures

In each of these he quotes this verse while speaking on another verse or subject. "Find the quote" opens the transcript at that spot.

Live this todayLoving Devotional Service Completely Satisfies the SelfOne of the 108 chosen lessons: a practice and a question from this verse

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 1.2.6? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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