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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
1.6.61.6.8

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.6.7

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

सास्वतन्त्रा न कल्पासीद्योगक्षेमं ममेच्छती ।

ईशस्य हि वशे लोको योषा दारुमयी यथा ॥ ७ ॥

sāsvatantrā na kalpāsīd

yoga-kṣemaṁ mamecchatī

īśasya hi vaśe loko

yoṣā dārumayī yathā

Translation

She wanted to look after my maintenance properly, but because she was not independent, she was not able to do anything for me. The world is under the full control of the Supreme Lord; therefore everyone is like a wooden doll in the hands of a puppet master.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Everyone Depends on the Supreme Lord

  1. 1

    Nārada’s mother wanted to maintain him properly.

  2. 2

    Because she was not independent, she could not provide for him as she wished.

  3. 3

    The world is under the full control of the Supreme Lord. Everyone is compared to a wooden doll in the hands of a puppet master.

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. sāshe
  2. asvatantrāwas dependent
  3. nanot
  4. kalpāable
  5. āsītwas
  6. yoga-kṣemammaintenance
  7. mamamy
  8. icchatīalthough desirous
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Āśraya · The summum bonum

    Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 1.6

    In this verse: “mother”

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 recognize the limits of my control while remembering the Supreme Lord?

Practice

When making one plan today, pause and acknowledge your dependence on the Supreme Lord.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayEveryone Depends on the Supreme LordThis 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 1.6.7? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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