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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.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 1 · Chapter 6: Conversation Between Nārada and Vyāsadeva
1.6.141.6.16

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.6.15

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Nārada Munisince 1.6.5inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaNārada Muni → Vyāsadeva

तस्मिन्निर्मनुजेऽरण्ये पिप्पलोपस्थ आश्रित: ।

आत्मनात्मानमात्मस्थं यथाश्रुतमचिन्तयम् ॥ १५ ॥

tasmin nirmanuje ’raṇye

pippalopastha āśritaḥ

ātmanātmānam ātmasthaṁ

yathā-śrutam acintayam

Translation

After that, under the shadow of a banyan tree in an uninhabited forest I began to meditate upon the Supersoul situated within, using my intelligence, as I had learned from liberated souls.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Meditate Under Authentic Spiritual Guidance

  1. 1

    Meditation should not follow personal whims. It should rest on authoritative scriptures received through a bona fide spiritual master.

  2. 2

    Trained intelligence is properly used to meditate upon the Supersoul dwelling within every living being.

  3. 3

    This consciousness develops through loving service to the Lord and obedience to the spiritual master. Śrī Nāradajī served bona fide spiritual masters sincerely and received enlightenment.

Key points from the purport
  • One should not meditate according to one’s personal whims.
  • One should know perfectly well from the authoritative sources of scriptures through the transparent medium of a bona fide spiritual master and by proper use of one’s trained intelligence for meditating upon the Supersoul dwelling within every living being.
  • Śrī Nāradajī contacted bona fide spiritual masters, served them sincerely and got enlightenment rightly.

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. tasminin that
  2. nirmanujewithout human habitation
  3. araṇyein the forest
  4. pippalabanyan tree
  5. upasthesitting under it
  6. āśritaḥtaking shelter of
  7. ātmanāby intelligence
  8. ātmānamthe Supersoul
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

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

Is my understanding of meditation guided by authoritative teaching or personal invention?

Practice

Reread this purport and write down one instruction that should guide your meditation.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayMeditate Under Authentic Spiritual GuidanceThis 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 1.6.15? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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