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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
1.6.121.6.14

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.6.13

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Nārada Munisince 1.6.5inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaNārada Muni → Vyāsadeva

नलवेणुशरस्तन्बकुशकीचकगह्वरम् ।

एक एवातियातोऽहमद्राक्षं विपिनं महत् ।

घोरं प्रतिभयाकारं व्यालोलूकशिवाजिरम् ॥ १३ ॥

nala-veṇu-śaras-tanba-

kuśa-kīcaka-gahvaram

eka evātiyāto ’ham

adrākṣaṁ vipinaṁ mahat

ghoraṁ pratibhayākāraṁ

vyālolūka-śivājiram

Translation

I then passed alone through many forests of rushes, bamboo, reeds, sharp grass, weeds and caves, which were very difficult to go through alone. I visited deep, dark and dangerously fearful forests, which were the play yards of snakes, owls and jackals.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Renunciation Means Devotion, Not Changed Dress

  1. 1

    A traveling mendicant experiences varieties of God’s creation to gain faith and strength of mind. He also enlightens others with the message of God.

  2. 2

    A change of dress is only a formality; the purpose of renunciation is exclusive service to the Lord. In the Age of Kali, sannyāsa is forbidden for ordinary men.

  3. 3

    Hearing and repeating the Lord’s holy glories is strongly recommended in this age. One need not imitate the dangerous travels of Nārada or Lord Caitanya.

Key points from the purport
  • It is the duty of a mendicant (parivrājakācārya) to experience all varieties of God’s creation by traveling alone through all forests, hills, towns, villages, etc., to gain faith in God and strength of mind as well as to enlighten the inhabitants with the message of God.
  • A sannyāsī is duty-bound to take all these risks without fear, and the most typical sannyāsī of the present age is Lord Caitanya, who traveled in the same manner through the central Indian jungles, enlightening even the tigers, bears, snakes, deer, elephants and many other jungle animals.
  • One should, however, take the vow to stop social intercourse completely and devote life exclusively to 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.

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. nalapipes
  2. veṇubamboo
  3. śaraḥpens
  4. tanbafull of
  5. kuśasharp grass
  6. kīcakaweeds
  7. gahvaramcaves
  8. ekaḥalone
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 1.6

    In this verse: “fearful”, “dangerously”, “dangerous”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 1.6

    In this verse: “hearing”

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 giving more attention to outward appearance or to actual service to the Lord?

Practice

Spend five minutes reading aloud from the holy scriptures with attention to the Lord’s glories.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayRenunciation Means Devotion, Not Changed DressThis 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 1.6.13? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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