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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
6.1.316.1.33

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.1.32

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

ऊचुर्निषेधितास्तांस्ते वैवस्वतपुर:सरा: ।

के यूयं प्रतिषेद्धारो धर्मराजस्य शासनम् ॥ ३२ ॥

ūcur niṣedhitās tāṁs te

vaivasvata-puraḥsarāḥ

ke yūyaṁ pratiṣeddhāro

dharma-rājasya śāsanam

Translation

When the order carriers of Yamarāja, the son of the sun-god, were thus forbidden, they replied: Who are you, sirs, that have the audacity to challenge the jurisdiction of Yamarāja?

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Yamarāja’s Messengers Encounter an Unexpected Challenge

  1. 1

    Because of his sinful activities, Ajāmila was within Yamarāja’s jurisdiction. Yamarāja is the appointed supreme judge who considers the sins of living entities.

  2. 2

    The messengers of Yamarāja were surprised when they were forbidden to touch Ajāmila. No one within the three worlds had previously hindered their duty.

  3. 3

    They asked who could challenge Yamarāja’s authority. Their question arose from this unprecedented interruption of their work.

Key points from the purport
  • According to the sinful activities of Ajāmila, he was within the jurisdiction of Yamarāja, the supreme judge appointed to consider the sins of the living entities.
  • When forbidden to touch Ajāmila, the order carriers of Yamarāja were surprised because they had never been hindered in the execution of their duty by anyone within the three worlds.

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:

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. ūcuḥreplied
  2. niṣedhitāḥbeing forbidden
  3. tānto the order carriers of Lord Viṣṇu
  4. tethey
  5. vaivasvataof Yamarāja
  6. puraḥ-sarāḥthe assistants or messengers
  7. kewho
  8. yūyamall of you
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

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

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

    In this verse: “sinful”, “sins”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 6.1

    In this verse: “duty”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How do I respond when something challenges what I assumed was unquestionable?

Practice

Reread the messengers’ question and write one sentence explaining why they were surprised.

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.

4 lectures given on it. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Show 2 more lectures on it
Live this todayYamarāja’s Messengers Encounter an Unexpected ChallengeThis 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.

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