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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
1.6.191.6.21

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.6.20

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

एवं यतन्तं विजने मामाहागोचरो गिराम् ।

गम्भीरश्लक्ष्णया वाचा शुच: प्रशमयन्निव ॥ २० ॥

evaṁ yatantaṁ vijane

mām āhāgocaro girām

gambhīra-ślakṣṇayā vācā

śucaḥ praśamayann iva

Translation

Seeing my attempts in that lonely place, the Personality of Godhead, who is transcendental to all mundane description, spoke to me with gravity and pleasing words, just to mitigate my grief.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Mercifully Enables Spiritual Hearing

  1. 1

    God is beyond mundane words and intelligence. Yet His inconceivable energy can grant suitable senses to hear Him or speak to Him.

  2. 2

    Pleased with Nārada Muni, the Lord gave him the strength to hear His grave and pleasing words. This was a special gift, not an experience available to others during the probationary stage of regulated devotional service.

  3. 3

    The Lord’s words eased Nārada’s grief of separation to some extent. A devotee in love with God feels separation while remaining absorbed in transcendental ecstasy.

Key points from the purport
  • In the Vedas it is said that God is beyond the approach of mundane words and intelligence.
  • The Lord was much pleased with Nārada Muni, and therefore the necessary strength was invested in him so that he could hear the Lord.
  • A devotee in love with God feels always the pangs of separation and is therefore always enwrapped in transcendental ecstasy.

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. evamthus
  2. yatantamone who is engaged in attempting
  3. vijanein that lonely place
  4. māmunto me
  5. āhasaid
  6. agocaraḥbeyond the range of physical sound
  7. girāmutterances
  8. gambhīragrave
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

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

  • Prema · Transcendental love

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

    In this verse: “love”, “ecstasy”

  • Viraha · Longing in separation

    Love and remembrance experienced in apparent absence. · Theme in SB 1.6

    In this verse: “separation”

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

How can I value regulated devotional service without expecting Nārada’s special gift?

Practice

Read this verse and purport attentively today, without expecting direct speech from the Lord.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Mercifully Enables Spiritual HearingThis 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 1.6.20? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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