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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
6.1.656.1.67

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.1.66

Ūti· What drives us to act
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

यतस्ततश्चोपनिन्ये न्यायतोऽन्यायतो धनम् ।

बभारास्या: कुटुम्बिन्या: कुटुम्बं मन्दधीरयम् ॥ ६६ ॥

yatas tataś copaninye

nyāyato ’nyāyato dhanam

babhārāsyāḥ kuṭumbinyāḥ

kuṭumbaṁ manda-dhīr ayam

Translation

Although born of a brāhmaṇa family, this rascal, bereft of intelligence because of the prostitute’s association, earned money somehow or other, regardless of whether properly or improperly, and used it to maintain the prostitute’s sons and daughters.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Association Can Undermine Honest Earning

  1. 1

    Although born in a brāhmaṇa family, Ajāmila lost his intelligence through the prostitute’s association. His birth did not prevent his decline.

  2. 2

    He earned money by whatever means he could. He no longer distinguished between proper and improper ways of earning.

  3. 3

    He used this money to maintain the prostitute’s sons and daughters. Maintaining them had become disconnected from concern about how the money was obtained.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yataḥ tataḥwherever possible, however possible
  2. caand
  3. upaninyehe got
  4. nyāyataḥproperly
  5. anyāyataḥimproperly
  6. dhanammoney
  7. babhārahe maintained
  8. asyāḥof her
3

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

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do I consider whether my means of earning are proper, not just whether they meet my needs?

Practice

Review one money-related decision today and make sure it involves no dishonest means.

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.

1 lecture given on it. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Live this todayAssociation Can Undermine Honest EarningThis 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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