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Canto 6 · Prescribed Duties for Mankind · 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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.1.17

Who is speaking and story frame

सध्रीचीनो ह्ययं लोके पन्था: क्षेमोऽकुतोभय: ।

सुशीला: साधवो यत्र नारायणपरायणा: ॥ १७ ॥

sadhrīcīno hy ayaṁ loke

panthāḥ kṣemo ’kuto-bhayaḥ

suśīlāḥ sādhavo yatra

nārāyaṇa-parāyaṇāḥ

Translation

The path followed by pure devotees, who are well-behaved and fully endowed with the best qualifications, is certainly the most auspicious path in this material world. It is free from fear, and it is authorized by the śāstras.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Follow the Fearless Path of Devotion

  1. 1

    The path of pure devotees is auspicious, free from fear, and authorized by the śāstras. Devotion to the Personality of Godhead brings all good qualities.

  2. 2

    Bhakti is not a path only for those who lack education or ability. The most learned scholars have followed it.

  3. 3

    Whether educated or not, one should follow the great devotees and their disciplic succession. Following their path of devotional service frees one from the clutches of māyā.

Key points from the purport
  • These are the actual followers of the bhakti path.
  • The less intelligent, however, misunderstand the bhakti path and therefore allege that it is for one who cannot execute ritualistic ceremonies or speculate.
  • Māyāvādīs may be suśīlāḥ sādhavaḥ (well-behaved saintly persons), but there is nevertheless some doubt about whether they are actually making progress, for they have not accepted the path of bhakti.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 6.1.17 quotesSB 5.18.12

As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (5.18.12): “One who has unflinching devotion to the Personality of Godhead has all the good qualities of the demigods.”

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

How it feels

Guilt and mortal terror → Mercy and renewed devotion. The holy name opens a path beyond an apparently hopeless death.

Chapters 1–3 of Canto 6: Ajāmila and the Viṣṇudūtas. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 1: The History of the Life of Ajāmila

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

On the path of fruitive work one certainly commits sinful activities, and therefore according to the considerations of karma-kāṇḍa, different types of atonement are recommended. Such methods of atonement, however, do not free one from ignorance, which is the root of sinful life.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.1
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. sadhrīcīnaḥjust appropriate
  2. hicertainly
  3. ayamthis
  4. lokein the world
  5. panthāḥpath
  6. kṣemaḥauspicious
  7. akutaḥ-bhayaḥwithout fear
  8. su-śīlāḥwell-behaved
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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 6.1

    In this verse: “devotees”, “devotional service”, “bhakti”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 6.1

    In this verse: “material”, “māyā”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 6.1

    In this verse: “fear”

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do I value devotional service by social status, or by the example of pure devotees?

Practice

Choose one quality of the pure devotees described here, and consciously practice it in one interaction today.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

His recorded lectures on this verse, and the talks where he quotes it.

5 lectures given on it · quoted in 2 more lectures. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Show 3 more lectures on it
Quoted in 2 other lectures

In each of these he quotes this verse while speaking on another verse or subject. "Find the quote" opens the transcript at that spot.

Live this todayFollow the Fearless Path of DevotionThis 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 6.1.17? Get an answer from the verses themselves.