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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
1.6.271.6.29

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.6.28

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

प्रयुज्यमाने मयि तां शुद्धां भागवतीं तनुम् ।

आरब्धकर्मनिर्वाणो न्यपतत् पाञ्चभौतिक: ॥ २८ ॥

prayujyamāne mayi tāṁ

śuddhāṁ bhāgavatīṁ tanum

ārabdha-karma-nirvāṇo

nyapatat pāñca-bhautikaḥ

Translation

Having been awarded a transcendental body befitting an associate of the Personality of Godhead, I quit the body made of five material elements, and thus all acquired fruitive results of work [karma] stopped.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotional Service Frees One From Karma

  1. 1

    Nārada received a spiritual body as soon as he left his material body. This body was fit for association with the Personality of Godhead.

  2. 2

    The transcendental body is eternal, free from material modes and free from reactions to fruitive work. Devotional service charges the devotee’s body with transcendental qualities.

  3. 3

    Living beings are ordinarily bound to enjoy and suffer the results of their work. By the causeless mercy of the Personality of Godhead, the devotee is freed from these reactions.

Key points from the purport
  • Informed by the Personality of Godhead that he would be awarded a transcendental body befitting the Lord’s association, Nārada got his spiritual body as soon as he quit his material body.
  • This transcendental body is free from material affinity and invested with three primary transcendental qualities, namely eternity, freedom from material modes, and freedom from reactions of fruitive activities.
  • Therefore change of the body means stoppage of the reaction of three qualitative modes of material nature upon the pure devotee.

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. prayujyamānehaving been awarded
  2. mayion me
  3. tāmthat
  4. śuddhāmtranscendental
  5. bhāgavatīmfit for associating with the Personality of Godhead
  6. tanumbody
  7. ārabdhaacquired
  8. karmafruitive work
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 1.6

    In this verse: “mercy”, “causeless”

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 more concerned with rewards for my work or with serving the Lord?

Practice

Perform one small service to the Lord today without asking for a material reward.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 1.6's connections

Live this todayDevotional Service Frees One From KarmaThis 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 1.6.28? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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