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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.
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Canto 1 · Chapter 6: Conversation Between Nārada and Vyāsadeva
1.6.151.6.17

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.6.16

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

ध्यायतश्चरणाम्भोजं भावनिर्जितचेतसा ।

औत्कण्ठ्याश्रुकलाक्षस्य हृद्यासीन्मे शनैर्हरि: ॥ १६ ॥

dhyāyataś caraṇāmbhojaṁ

bhāva-nirjita-cetasā

autkaṇṭhyāśru-kalākṣasya

hṛdy āsīn me śanair hariḥ

Translation

As soon as I began to meditate upon the lotus feet of the Personality of Godhead with my mind transformed in transcendental love, tears rolled down my eyes, and without delay the Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, appeared on the lotus of my heart.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotional Service Develops Love for Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    Spiritual development begins with śraddhā, a liking for the Supreme Lord. Association with pure devotees and regulated devotional service help that liking grow.

  2. 2

    Devotional practice removes misgivings and deficiencies that hinder progress. Firm faith develops into taste, attraction and then bhāva, the stage preceding unalloyed love for God.

  3. 3

    As Nārada meditated with transcendental love, tears came automatically and Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, appeared in his heart. He experienced the Lord through developed spiritual senses without material tinge.

Key points from the purport
  • This bhāva stage is attained after one has transcendental affection for the Lord.
  • All the above different stages are but different stages of development of transcendental love.
  • Tears from the eyes of a devotee is an automatic reaction, and because Śrī Nārada Muni in his previous birth attained that stage very quickly after his departure from home, it was quite possible for him to perceive the actual presence of the Lord, which he tangibly experienced by his developed spiritual senses without material tinge.

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. dhyāyataḥthus meditating upon
  2. caraṇa-ambhojamthe lotus feet of the localized Personality of Godhead
  3. bhāva-nirjitamind transformed in transcendental love for the Lord
  4. cetasāall mental activities (thinking, feeling and willing)
  5. autkaṇṭhyaeagerness
  6. aśru-kalatears rolled down
  7. akṣasyaof the eyes
  8. hṛdiwithin my heart
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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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotees”

  • Prema · Transcendental love

    The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 1.6

    In this verse: “love”

  • 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

What can I do to nourish steady devotional practice rather than seek its outward emotional signs?

Practice

Give five attentive minutes today to a regular practice of devotional service.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotional Service Develops Love for KṛṣṇaThis 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.

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