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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
1.6.31.6.5

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.6.4

Nirodha· Winding up
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Vyāsadevasince 1.6.2inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaNārada Muni → Vyāsadeva

प्राक्कल्पविषयामेतां स्मृतिं ते मुनिसत्तम ।

न ह्येष व्यवधात्काल एष सर्वनिराकृति: ॥ ४ ॥

prāk-kalpa-viṣayām etāṁ

smṛtiṁ te muni-sattama

na hy eṣa vyavadhāt kāla

eṣa sarva-nirākṛtiḥ

Translation

O great sage, time annihilates everything in due course, so how is it that this subject matter, which happened prior to this day of Brahmā, is still fresh in your memory, undisturbed by time?

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Spiritual Consciousness Is Never Annihilated

  1. 1

    Vyāsadeva asked how Nārada’s memories remained fresh despite the passage of time, which annihilates everything material.

  2. 2

    The spirit and spiritual consciousness are not annihilated when the material body is destroyed. Śrī Nārada had developed spiritual consciousness while still in his material body.

  3. 3

    Consciousness expressed through the material body is inferior, destructible and perverted. Consciousness on the spiritual plane is never annihilated.

Key points from the purport
  • As spirit is not annihilated even after the annihilation of the material body, so also spiritual consciousness is not annihilated.
  • Śrī Nārada developed this spiritual consciousness even when he had his material body in the previous kalpa.
  • Consciousness of the material body means spiritual consciousness expressed through the medium of a material body.

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. prākprior
  2. kalpathe duration of Brahmā’s day
  3. viṣayāmsubject matter
  4. etāmall these
  5. smṛtimremembrance
  6. teyour
  7. muni-sattamaO great sage
  8. nanot
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Nirodha · Returning home, back to Godhead

    What happens when everything here comes to an end? · Subject 8 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

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 does the enduring nature of spiritual consciousness affect what I value?

Practice

Take one quiet minute to reflect on the distinction between the temporary body and enduring spiritual consciousness.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySpiritual Consciousness Is Never AnnihilatedThis 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 1.6.4? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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