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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.
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Canto 6 · Chapter 1: The History of the Life of Ajāmila
6.1.546.1.56-57

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.1.55

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Yamadūtassince 6.1.40inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitThe Viṣṇudūtas → the Yamadūtas

एष प्रकृतिसङ्गेन पुरुषस्य विपर्यय: ।

आसीत्स एव नचिरादीशसङ्गाद्विलीयते ॥ ५५ ॥

eṣa prakṛti-saṅgena

puruṣasya viparyayaḥ

āsīt sa eva na cirād

īśa-saṅgād vilīyate

Translation

Since the living entity is associated with material nature, he is in an awkward position, but if in the human form of life he is taught how to associate with the Supreme Personality of Godhead or His devotee, this position can be overcome.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Liberation Means Returning to the Lord's Service

  1. 1

    The desire to enjoy material nature separately from Kṛṣṇa keeps the living entity bound. Association with the Supreme Personality of Godhead or His devotees can overcome this condition.

  2. 2

    Understanding Kṛṣṇa's form, name, activities and pastimes keeps one in His association. Through this understanding, one can return home, back to Godhead instead of accepting another material body.

  3. 3

    The living entity is an eternal servant of God. Liberation means giving up the desire to lord it over matter and reviving one's original service to the Lord.

Key points from the purport
  • The word prakṛti means material nature, and puruṣa may also refer to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • If he changes his consciousness, however, and associates with the supreme, original person (puruṣaṁ śāśvatam), or with His associates, he can get out of the entanglement of material nature.
  • Thus one ends the tribulation caused by his association with the material energy.

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 6.1.55 quotesBG 4.9

As confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā (4.9), janma karma ca me divyam evaṁ yo vetti tattvataḥ: one must simply understand the Supreme Person, Kṛṣṇa, in terms of His form, name, activities and pastimes.

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:

At the time of Ajāmila’s death, when the order carriers of Yamarāja came to take him, he loudly called the name Nārāyaṇa in fear because he was attached to his youngest son. Thus he remembered the original Nārāyaṇa, Lord Viṣṇu.
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. eṣaḥthis
  2. prakṛti-saṅgenabecause of association with the material nature
  3. puruṣasyaof the living entity
  4. viparyayaḥa situation of forgetfulness or an awkward position
  5. āsītcame to be
  6. saḥthat position
  7. evaindeed
  8. nanot
3

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: “devotee”, “devotees”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 6.1

    In this verse: “understanding”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does seeing myself as the Lord's servant change my desire to control or enjoy things?

Practice

Spend five minutes today learning about Kṛṣṇa's name, form, activities or pastimes.

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.

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

Live this todayLiberation Means Returning to the Lord's ServiceThis 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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