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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 14: King Citraketu’s Lamentation
6.14.176.14.19

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.14.18

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The great sage Aṅgirāsince 6.14.17inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

आत्मानं प्रकृतिष्वद्धा निधाय श्रेय आप्नुयात् ।

राज्ञा तथा प्रकृतयो नरदेवाहिताधय: ॥ १८ ॥

ātmānaṁ prakṛtiṣv addhā

nidhāya śreya āpnuyāt

rājñā tathā prakṛtayo

naradevāhitādhayaḥ

Translation

O King, O lord of humanity, when a king directly depends upon his associates and follows their instructions, he is happy. Similarly, when his associates offer their gifts and activities to the king and follow his orders, they are also happy.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Mutual Dependence Makes Everyone Happy

  1. 1

    A king should not simply give orders because he holds the highest position.

  2. 2

    Sometimes the king must follow the instructions of his associates. His dependents, in turn, should depend on him and follow his orders.

  3. 3

    This mutual dependence brings happiness to both the king and those who serve him.

Key points from the purport
  • The actual happiness of a king and his dependents is described in this verse.
  • A king should not simply give orders to his dependents because he is supreme; sometimes he must follow their instructions.
  • Similarly, the dependents should depend on the king.

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

Parental grief → Detachment and surrender. A flashback discloses the devotional history behind Vṛtrāsura.

Chapters 14–17 of Canto 6: Citraketu's grief, realization and curse. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 14: King Citraketu’s Lamentation

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

And among many millions of such liberated persons, one may become a devotee of Lord Nārāyaṇa. Therefore such devotees are extremely rare.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.14
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. ātmānamhimself
  2. prakṛtiṣuunder these seven royal elements
  3. addhādirectly
  4. nidhāyaplacing
  5. śreyaḥultimate happiness
  6. āpnuyātmay obtain
  7. rājñāby the king
  8. tathāso also
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 6.14

    In this verse: “king”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Where could I listen to someone I usually direct?

Practice

Ask someone you work with for advice today, and put one useful suggestion into action.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayMutual Dependence Makes Everyone HappyThis 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 6.14.18? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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