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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 6: Conversation Between Nārada and Vyāsadeva
1.6.91.6.11

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.6.10

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Nārada Munisince 1.6.5inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaNārada Muni → Vyāsadeva

तदा तदहमीशस्य भक्तानां शमभीप्सत: ।

अनुग्रहं मन्यमान: प्रातिष्ठं दिशमुत्तराम् ॥ १० ॥

tadā tad aham īśasya

bhaktānāṁ śam abhīpsataḥ

anugrahaṁ manyamānaḥ

prātiṣṭhaṁ diśam uttarām

Translation

I took this as the special mercy of the Lord, who always desires benediction for His devotees, and so thinking, I started for the north.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Recognize the Lord’s Merciful Direction

  1. 1

    Nārada accepted what had happened as the Lord’s special mercy, knowing that the Lord desires blessings for His devotees. He then started north.

  2. 2

    Confidential devotees see the Lord’s beneficial direction at every step. They accept even difficult moments as His special mercy.

  3. 3

    The purport compares material prosperity to a fever. By the Lord’s grace, this fever gradually diminishes and spiritual health develops step by step.

Key points from the purport
  • Confidential devotees of the Lord see in every step a benedictory direction of the Lord.
  • What is considered to be an odd or difficult moment in the mundane sense is accepted as special mercy of the Lord.
  • Mundane prosperity is a kind of material fever, and by the grace of the Lord the temperature of this material fever is gradually diminished, and spiritual health is obtained step by step.

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

Dissatisfaction → Inspired clarity. Even great accomplishment leaves Vyāsa without contentment until devotion is centered.

Chapters 4–6 of Canto 1: Vyāsa is dissatisfied; Nārada directs him to the Lord. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 6: Conversation Between Nārada and Vyāsadeva

Nārada recounts seeing Kṛṣṇa within his heart and becoming fixed in unbroken devotional service.

Back to this verse in chapter 1.6
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tadāat that time
  2. tatthat
  3. ahamI
  4. īśasyaof the Lord
  5. bhaktānāmof the devotees
  6. śammercy
  7. abhīpsataḥdesiring
  8. anugrahamspecial benediction
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 1.6

    In this verse: “mercy”, “grace”, “blessings”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 1.6

    In this verse: “devotees”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 1.6

    In this verse: “material”

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

Am I measuring my well-being only by material prosperity, or also by spiritual health?

Practice

Reflect on one current difficulty and offer a prayer for spiritual health and trust in the Lord’s merciful direction.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayRecognize the Lord’s Merciful DirectionThis 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 1.6.10? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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