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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 · Texts 6.1.58-60

Who is speaking and story frame

एकदासौ वनं यात: पितृसन्देशकृद् द्विज: ।

आदाय तत आवृत्त: फलपुष्पसमित्कुशान् ॥ ५८ ॥

ददर्श कामिनं कञ्चिच्छूद्रं सह भुजिष्यया ।

पीत्वा च मधु मैरेयं मदाघूर्णितनेत्रया ॥ ५९ ॥

मत्तया विश्लथन्नीव्या व्यपेतं निरपत्रपम् ।

क्रीडन्तमनुगायन्तं हसन्तमनयान्तिके ॥ ६० ॥

ekadāsau vanaṁ yātaḥ

pitṛ-sandeśa-kṛd dvijaḥ

ādāya tata āvṛttaḥ

phala-puṣpa-samit-kuśān

dadarśa kāminaṁ kañcic

chūdraṁ saha bhujiṣyayā

pītvā ca madhu maireyaṁ

madāghūrṇita-netrayā

mattayā viślathan-nīvyā

vyapetaṁ nirapatrapam

krīḍantam anugāyantaṁ

hasantam anayāntike

Translation

Once this brāhmaṇa Ajāmila, following the order of his father, went to the forest to collect fruit, flowers and two kinds of grass, called samit and kuśa. On the way home, he came upon a śūdra, a very lusty, fourth-class man, who was shamelessly embracing and kissing a prostitute. The śūdra was smiling, singing and enjoying as if this were proper behavior. Both the śūdra and the prostitute were drunk. The prostitute’s eyes were rolling in intoxication, and her dress had become loose. Such was the condition in which Ajāmila saw them.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Steadiness Through Discipline and the Holy Name

  1. 1

    While carrying out his father's order, Ajāmila encountered a drunken couple embracing. Even though he was a disciplined brahmacārī, the sight affected him.

  2. 2

    Remaining steady amid such provocation requires serious Kṛṣṇa consciousness and strong adherence to the regulative principles. These prohibit illicit sex, intoxication, meat-eating and gambling.

  3. 3

    By Kṛṣṇa's grace, one who follows these principles and remains fixed in chanting His holy name receives His protection. Kṛṣṇa assures that His devotee is never vanquished.

Key points from the purport
  • While traveling along the public way, Ajāmila came upon a fourth-class man and a prostitute, who are vividly described here.
  • For such a brahmacārī to remain steady is very difficult unless he is extremely strong in following the regulative principles.
  • Nevertheless, if one takes to Kṛṣṇa consciousness very seriously, he can withstand the provocation created by sin.

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. ekadāonce upon a time
  2. asauthis Ajāmila
  3. vanam yātaḥwent to the forest
  4. pitṛof his father
  5. sandeśathe order
  6. kṛtcarrying out
  7. dvijaḥthe brāhmaṇa
  8. ādāyacollecting
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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: “father”, “father's”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 6.1

    In this verse: “chanting”, “holy name”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “lusty”

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I take chanting and the regulative principles more seriously when facing temptation?

Practice

Set aside a few uninterrupted minutes today to chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mantra attentively.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

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Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

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

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

Quoted in 3 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 todaySteadiness Through Discipline and the Holy NameThis 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 6.1.58-60? Get an answer from the verses themselves.