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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 6.1.61

Who is speaking and story frame

द‍ृष्ट्वा तां कामलिप्तेन बाहुना परिरम्भिताम् ।

जगाम हृच्छयवशं सहसैव विमोहित: ॥ ६१ ॥

dṛṣṭvā tāṁ kāma-liptena

bāhunā parirambhitām

jagāma hṛc-chaya-vaśaṁ

sahasaiva vimohitaḥ

Translation

The śūdra, his arm decorated with turmeric powder, was embracing the prostitute. When Ajāmila saw her, the dormant lusty desires in his heart awakened, and in illusion he fell under their control.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Seeing Can Awaken Dormant Desires

  1. 1

    Ajāmila saw the śūdra embracing the prostitute with an arm decorated with turmeric powder.

  2. 2

    The purport explains that kāma-liptena refers to turmeric smeared on the body to attract lusty desires.

  3. 3

    Seeing the woman awakened dormant lusty desires in Ajāmila's heart. In illusion, he suddenly fell under their control.

Key points from the purport
  • It is said that if one’s body is smeared with turmeric, it attracts the lusty desires of the opposite sex.
  • The word kāma-liptena indicates that the śūdra was decorated with turmeric smeared on his body.

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:

Ajāmila begot in the womb of the prostitute ten sons, the last of whom was called Nārāyaṇa. 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.
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. dṛṣṭvāby seeing
  2. tāmher (the prostitute)
  3. kāma-liptenadecorated with turmeric to incite lusty desires
  4. bāhunāwith the arm
  5. parirambhitāmembraced
  6. jagāmawent
  7. hṛt-śayaof lusty desires within the heart
  8. vaśamunder the control
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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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “illusion”, “lusty”

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What do I notice about the effect of what I look at on the desires within my heart?

Practice

Today, turn your gaze away from something you recognize as stirring lusty desires.

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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. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Live this todaySeeing Can Awaken Dormant DesiresThis 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 6.1.61? Get an answer from the verses themselves.