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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
1.6.21.6.4

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.6.3

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

स्वायम्भुव कया वृत्त्या वर्तितं ते परं वय: ।

कथं चेदमुदस्राक्षी: काले प्राप्ते कलेवरम् ॥ ३ ॥

svāyambhuva kayā vṛttyā

vartitaṁ te paraṁ vayaḥ

kathaṁ cedam udasrākṣīḥ

kāle prāpte kalevaram

Translation

O son of Brahmā, how did you pass your life after initiation, and how did you attain this body, having quit your old one in due course?

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Learn About Spiritual Transformation

  1. 1

    Vyāsadeva asked how Nārada had spent his life after initiation.

  2. 2

    In his previous life, Śrī Nārada Muni was an ordinary maidservant’s son. He became perfectly transformed into a spiritual body of eternal life, bliss and knowledge.

  3. 3

    Vyāsadeva considered this transformation important and wanted Nārada to disclose the facts for everyone’s satisfaction.

Key points from the purport
  • Śrī Nārada Muni in his previous life was just an ordinary maidservant’s son, so how he became so perfectly transformed into the spiritual body of eternal life, bliss and knowledge is certainly important.
  • Śrī Vyāsadeva desired him to disclose the facts for everyone’s satisfaction.

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. svāyambhuvaO son of Brahmā
  2. kayāunder what condition
  3. vṛttyāoccupation
  4. vartitamwas spent
  5. teyou
  6. paramafter the initiation
  7. vayaḥduration of life
  8. kathamhow
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”

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 interests me about the transformation from ordinary life to spiritual perfection?

Practice

Spend a minute reflecting on the words “eternal life, bliss and knowledge,” and write what you want to understand about them.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayLearn About Spiritual TransformationThis 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 1.6.3? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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