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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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Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
1.6.11.6.3

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.6.2

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Vyāsadevasince 1.6.2inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaNārada Muni → Vyāsadeva

व्यास उवाच

भिक्षुभिर्विप्रवसिते विज्ञानादेष्टृभिस्तव ।

वर्तमानो वयस्याद्ये तत: किमकरोद्भ‍वान् ॥ २ ॥

vyāsa uvāca

bhikṣubhir vipravasite

vijñānādeṣṭṛbhis tava

vartamāno vayasy ādye

tataḥ kim akarod bhavān

Translation

Śrī Vyāsadeva said: What did you [Nārada] do after the departure of the great sages who had instructed you in scientific transcendental knowledge before the beginning of your present birth?

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Sincere Inquiry Supports Spiritual Progress

  1. 1

    Vyāsadeva wanted to hear what Nārada did after the departure of the great sages who had instructed him.

  2. 2

    As Nāradajī’s disciple, Vyāsadeva wanted to follow in his footsteps and attain the same perfect stage of life.

  3. 3

    Inquiry from the spiritual master is essential for spiritual progress. This process is called sad-dharma-pṛcchā.

Key points from the purport
  • Vyāsadeva himself was the disciple of Nāradajī, and therefore it was natural to be anxious to hear what Nārada did after initiation from the spiritual masters.
  • He wanted to follow in Nārada’s footsteps in order to attain to the same perfect stage of life.
  • This desire to inquire from the spiritual master is an essential factor to the progressive path.

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. vyāsaḥ uvācaŚrī Vyāsadeva said
  2. bhikṣubhiḥby the great mendicants
  3. vipravasitehaving departed for other places
  4. vijñānascientific knowledge in transcendence
  5. ādeṣṭṛbhiḥthose who had instructed
  6. tavaof your
  7. vartamānaḥpresent
  8. vayasiof the duration of life
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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 1.6

    In this verse: “knowledge”, “inquiry”

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 seeking spiritual instruction with a desire to follow it?

Practice

Write down one question you would like to ask a spiritual master about following spiritual instruction.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySincere Inquiry Supports Spiritual ProgressThis 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 1.6.2? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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