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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 ›
Canto 6 · Chapter 1: The History of the Life of Ajāmila
6.1.186.1.20

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.1.19

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmī, the son of Vedavyāsasince 6.1.11inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

सकृन्मन: कृष्णपदारविन्दयो-

र्निवेशितं तद्गुणरागि यैरिह ।

न ते यमं पाशभृतश्च तद्भ‍टान्

स्वप्नेऽपि पश्यन्ति हि चीर्णनिष्कृता: ॥ १९ ॥

sakṛn manaḥ kṛṣṇa-padāravindayor

niveśitaṁ tad-guṇa-rāgi yair iha

na te yamaṁ pāśa-bhṛtaś ca tad-bhaṭān

svapne ’pi paśyanti hi cīrṇa-niṣkṛtāḥ

Translation

Although not having fully realized Kṛṣṇa, persons who have even once surrendered completely unto His lotus feet and who have become attracted to His name, form, qualities and pastimes are completely freed of all sinful reactions, for they have thus accepted the true method of atonement. Even in dreams, such surrendered souls do not see Yamarāja or his order carriers, who are equipped with ropes to bind the sinful.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Surrender to Kṛṣṇa Brings Fearlessness

  1. 1

    Even once surrendering sincerely and completely to Kṛṣṇa frees one from sinful reactions. Such surrender is the true method of atonement and the highest perfection of bhakti-yoga.

  2. 2

    Kṛṣṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead and the origin of Nārāyaṇa and Vāsudeva. Surrendering to Him includes surrender to all His expansions.

  3. 3

    One should hold tightly to Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet and serve Him under the spiritual master’s direction. His protection must never be used as an excuse to commit sinful activities.

Key points from the purport
  • If by studying Bhagavad-gītā one decides to surrender to Kṛṣṇa, he is immediately freed from all sinful reactions.
  • Therefore Kṛṣṇa recommends to neophyte devotees that one should surrender unto Him only (mām ekam).
  • Of course, one should not commit sinful activities on the strength of having surrendered to Kṛṣṇa.

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· 4

The purport of SB 6.1.19 quotesBG 18.66

Kṛṣṇa says in Bhagavad-gītā (18.66): “Abandon all varieties of religion and just surrender unto Me.

The purport of SB 6.1.19 quotesBG 7.7

As Kṛṣṇa says in Bhagavad-gītā (7.7), mattaḥ parataraṁ nānyat: “There is no truth superior to Me.”

The purport of SB 6.1.19 quotesBG 9.30

Therefore Kṛṣṇa says in Bhagavad-gītā (9.30): “Even if one commits the most abominable actions, if he is engaged in devotional service he is to be considered saintly because he is properly situated.”

The purport of SB 6.1.19 quotesBG 2.40

In the Second Chapter of Bhagavad-gītā (2.40) the Lord also says: “In this endeavor there is no loss or diminution, and a little advancement on this path can protect one from the most dangerous type of fear.”

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:

Fruitive activities and speculative knowledge cannot independently liberate anyone, but devotional service, independent of karma and jñāna, is so potent that one who has fixed his mind at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa is guaranteed not to meet the Yamadūtas, the order carriers of Yamarāja, even in dreams. To prove the strength of devotional service, Śukadeva Gosvāmī described the history of Ajāmila.
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. sakṛtonce only
  2. manaḥthe mind
  3. kṛṣṇa-pada-aravindayoḥunto the two lotus feet of Lord Kṛṣṇa
  4. niveśitamcompletely surrendered
  5. tatof Kṛṣṇa
  6. guṇa-rāgiwhich is somewhat attached to the qualities, name, fame and paraphernalia
  7. yaiḥby whom
  8. ihain this world
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 6.1

    In this verse: “surrendered”, “surrendering”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 6.1

    In this verse: “sinful”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 6.1

    In this verse: “bhakti-yoga”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I seek Kṛṣṇa’s protection without treating His mercy as permission to do wrong?

Practice

Read Kṛṣṇa’s assurance quoted in this purport, then offer a brief, sincere prayer to surrender to Him.

5

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.

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

Show 4 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 todaySurrender to Kṛṣṇa Brings FearlessnessOne of the 108 chosen lessons: a practice and a question from this verse

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 6.1.19? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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