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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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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 6.1.22

Who is speaking and story frame

बन्द्यक्षै: कैतवैश्चौर्यैर्गर्हितां वृत्तिमास्थित: ।

बिभ्रत्कुटुम्बमशुचिर्यातयामास देहिन: ॥ २२ ॥

bandy-akṣaiḥ kaitavaiś cauryair

garhitāṁ vṛttim āsthitaḥ

bibhrat kuṭumbam aśucir

yātayām āsa dehinaḥ

Translation

This fallen brāhmaṇa, Ajāmila, gave trouble to others by arresting them, by cheating them in gambling or by directly plundering them. This was the way he earned his livelihood and maintained his wife and children.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Surrender Helps Restrain Harmful Habits

  1. 1

    Ajāmila maintained his family by arresting, cheating, and plundering others. His livelihood caused suffering to other living beings.

  2. 2

    The purport warns that illicit sex encourages further harmful habits, including meat-eating, gambling, and intoxication. These habits damage both individuals and society.

  3. 3

    Restraint is difficult, but it becomes possible through full surrender to Kṛṣṇa. Harmful habits gradually become distasteful to a Kṛṣṇa conscious person.

Key points from the purport
  • The more society allows prostitution and illicit sex, the more impetus it gives to cheaters, thieves, plunderers, drunkards and gamblers.
  • Therefore we first advise all the disciples in our Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement to avoid illicit sex, which is the beginning of all abominable life and which is followed by meat-eating, gambling and intoxication, one after another.
  • If illicit sex is allowed to increase in a society, however, the entire society will be condemned, for it will be full of rogues, thieves, cheaters and so forth.

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

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:

He was trained by his parents to become a perfect brāhmaṇa by studying the Vedas and following the regulative principles, but because of his past, this youthful brāhmaṇa was somehow attracted by a prostitute, and because of her association he became most fallen and abandoned all regulative principles. Ajāmila begot in the womb of the prostitute ten sons, the last of whom was called Nārāyaṇa.
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. bandī-akṣaiḥby unnecessarily arresting someone
  2. kaitavaiḥby cheating in gambling or throwing dice
  3. cauryaiḥby committing theft
  4. garhitāmcondemned
  5. vṛttimprofessions
  6. āsthitaḥwho has undertaken (because of association with a prostitute)
  7. bibhratmaintaining
  8. kuṭumbamhis dependent wife and children
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 6.1

    In this verse: “children”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

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

    In this verse: “surrender”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 6.1

    In this verse: “suffering”

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Is any habit of mine causing harm to others while I justify it as necessary?

Practice

Identify one harmful habit you need to restrain, and ask Kṛṣṇa for help before declining one opportunity to indulge it 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.

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

Show 1 more lecture on it
Quoted in 5 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 Helps Restrain Harmful HabitsThis 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 6.1.22? Get an answer from the verses themselves.