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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
6.1.676.2.1

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.1.68

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

तत एनं दण्डपाणे: सकाशं कृतकिल्बिषम् ।

नेष्यामोऽकृतनिर्वेशं यत्र दण्डेन शुद्ध्यति ॥ ६८ ॥

tata enaṁ daṇḍa-pāṇeḥ

sakāśaṁ kṛta-kilbiṣam

neṣyāmo ’kṛta-nirveśaṁ

yatra daṇḍena śuddhyati

Translation

This man Ajāmila did not undergo atonement. Therefore because of his sinful life, we must take him into the presence of Yamarāja for punishment. There, according to the extent of his sinful acts, he will be punished and thus purified.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Punishment Is Meant for Purification

  1. 1

    The Yamadūtas argued that Ajāmila had lived sinfully without undergoing atonement. They therefore wanted to take him before Yamarāja.

  2. 2

    They explained that his punishment would correspond to the extent of his sinful acts and would purify him. The purport describes punishment by Yamarāja as a process of purification.

  3. 3

    The Viṣṇudūtas had forbidden the Yamadūtas to take Ajāmila away. The Yamadūtas presented their reasons and asked the Viṣṇudūtas not to obstruct them.

Key points from the purport
  • The Viṣṇudūtas had forbidden the Yamadūtas to take Ajāmila to Yamarāja, and therefore the Yamadūtas explained that taking such a man to Yamarāja was appropriate.
  • Since Ajāmila had not undergone atonement for his sinful acts, he was to be taken to Yamarāja to be purified.
  • When a man commits murder he becomes sinful, and therefore he also must be killed; otherwise after death he must suffer many sinful reactions.

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:

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. tataḥtherefore
  2. enamhim
  3. daṇḍa-pāṇeḥof Yamarāja, who is authorized to punish
  4. sakāśamin the presence
  5. kṛta-kilbiṣamwho has regularly committed all sinful activities
  6. neṣyāmaḥwe shall take
  7. akṛta-nirveśamwho has not undergone atonement
  8. yatrawhere
  9. daṇḍenaby punishment
  10. śuddhyatihe will be purified
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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

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

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

    In this verse: “purified”, “sinful”, “purify”

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I willing to acknowledge wrongdoing rather than leave it unaddressed?

Practice

Identify one wrong action you have left unaddressed and write down one concrete step toward correcting it.

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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.

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

Live this todayPunishment Is Meant for PurificationThis 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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