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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
1.6.251.6.27

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.6.26

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

नामान्यनन्तस्य हतत्रप: पठन्

गुह्यानि भद्राणि कृतानि च स्मरन् ।

गां पर्यटंस्तुष्टमना गतस्पृह:

कालं प्रतीक्षन् विमदो विमत्सर: ॥ २६ ॥

nāmāny anantasya hata-trapaḥ paṭhan

guhyāni bhadrāṇi kṛtāni ca smaran

gāṁ paryaṭaṁs tuṣṭa-manā gata-spṛhaḥ

kālaṁ pratīkṣan vimado vimatsaraḥ

Translation

Thus I began chanting the holy name and fame of the Lord by repeated recitation, ignoring all the formalities of the material world. Such chanting and remembering of the transcendental pastimes of the Lord are benedictory. So doing, I traveled all over the earth, fully satisfied, humble and unenvious.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Chant Humbly for Everyone’s Welfare

  1. 1

    Nārada’s life shows the sincere devotee’s practice: chanting the Lord’s holy name and glories and remembering His pastimes. Such remembrance and chanting are beneficial.

  2. 2

    After initiation by the Lord or His bona fide representative, a devotee takes glorifying the Lord seriously. The aim is to go back to Godhead, not to gain materially.

  3. 3

    A sincere devotee is neither envious nor proud of being eligible to return to Godhead. According to personal capacity, the devotee shares the Lord’s message for others’ welfare.

Key points from the purport
  • The life of a sincere devotee of the Lord is thus explained in a nutshell by Nārada Muni by his personal example.
  • Such a devotee, after his initiation by the Lord or His bona fide representative, takes very seriously chanting of the glories of the Lord and traveling all over the world so that others may also hear the glories of the Lord.
  • Their only business is to chant and remember the holy name, fame and pastimes of the Lord and, according to personal capacity, to distribute the message for others’ welfare without motive of material gain.

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. nāmānithe holy name, fame, etc.
  2. anantasyaof the unlimited
  3. hata-trapaḥbeing freed from all formalities of the material world
  4. paṭhanby recitation, repeated reading, etc.
  5. guhyānimysterious
  6. bhadrāṇiall-benedictory
  7. kṛtāniactivities
  8. caand
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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

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

    In this verse: “chanting”, “holy name”, “recitation”

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 1.6

    In this verse: “humble”, “proud”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 1.6

    In this verse: “material”, “materially”

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

Can I share the Lord’s glories without seeking praise or material gain?

Practice

Share one passage about the Lord’s glories with someone willing to hear, without seeking recognition.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayChant Humbly for Everyone’s WelfareThis 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 1.6.26? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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