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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 ›
Canto 6 · Chapter 11: The Transcendental Qualities of Vṛtrāsura
6.11.246.11.26

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.11.25

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śrī Vṛtrāsurasince 6.11.14inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

न नाकपृष्ठं न च पारमेष्ठ्यं

न सार्वभौमं न रसाधिपत्यम् ।

न योगसिद्धीरपुनर्भवं वा

समञ्जस त्वा विरहय्य काङ्‌क्षे ॥ २५ ॥

na nāka-pṛṣṭhaṁ na ca pārameṣṭhyaṁ

na sārva-bhaumaṁ na rasādhipatyam

na yoga-siddhīr apunar-bhavaṁ vā

samañjasa tvā virahayya kāṅkṣe

Translation

O my Lord, source of all opportunities, I do not desire to enjoy in Dhruvaloka, the heavenly planets or the planet where Lord Brahmā resides, nor do I want to be the supreme ruler of all the earthly planets or the lower planetary systems. I do not desire to be master of the powers of mystic yoga, nor do I want liberation if I have to give up Your lotus feet.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Choose Loving Service Above Every Reward

  1. 1

    Vṛtrāsura does not desire heavenly enjoyment, sovereignty or mystic powers. He does not even want liberation if it means giving up the Lord’s lotus feet.

  2. 2

    A pure devotee never uses transcendental loving service to gain material opportunities. The desire is only to serve in constant association with the Lord and His eternal associates.

  3. 3

    Serving the Lord and the servants of His servants, in the association of devotees, is the sole objective of an unalloyed devotee.

Key points from the purport
  • A pure devotee never desires to gain material opportunities by rendering transcendental loving service to the Lord.
  • A pure devotee desires only to engage in loving service to the Lord in the constant association of the Lord and His eternal associates, as stated in the previous verse (dāsānudāso bhavitāsmi).
  • To serve the Lord and the servants of His servants, in the association of devotees, is the only objective of a pure, unalloyed devotee.

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

Quoted in the purport ofSB 6.12.22

Vṛtrāsura has formerly prayed, na nāka-pṛṣṭhaṁ na ca pārameṣṭhyaṁ na sārva-bhaumaṁ na rasādhipatyam. “I do not want the facilities for happiness on Brahmaloka, Svargaloka or even Dhruvaloka, not to speak of this earth or the lower planets.

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

Danger → Fearless longing. A seeming enemy reveals the heart of a great devotee.

Chapters 11–13 of Canto 6: Vṛtrāsura's prayers and final battle. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 11: The Transcendental Qualities of Vṛtrāsura

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

I do not desire to be promoted to the higher planetary systems, even to Dhruvaloka or Brahmaloka, nor do I desire an unconquerable position within this material world. I have no need for such things.”
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.11
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. nanot
  2. nāka-pṛṣṭhamthe heavenly planets or Dhruvaloka
  3. nanor
  4. caalso
  5. pārameṣṭhyamthe planet on which Lord Brahmā resides
  6. nanor
  7. sārva-bhaumamsovereignty of the whole earthly planetary system
  8. nanor
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

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 6.11

    In this verse: “give up”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 6.11

    In this verse: “ruler”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 6.11

    In this verse: “devotee”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What reward might distract me from valuing the Lord’s service above everything else?

Practice

Before one act of devotional service today, pause and pray to serve without seeking a reward.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayChoose Loving Service Above Every RewardThis 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 6.11.25? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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