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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
6.14.16.14.3

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.14.2

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:King Parīkṣitsince 6.14.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

देवानां शुद्धसत्त्वानामृषीणां चामलात्मनाम् ।

भक्तिर्मुकुन्दचरणे न प्रायेणोपजायते ॥ २ ॥

devānāṁ śuddha-sattvānām

ṛṣīṇāṁ cāmalātmanām

bhaktir mukunda-caraṇe

na prāyeṇopajāyate

Translation

Demigods situated in the mode of goodness and great saints cleansed of the dirt of material enjoyment hardly ever render pure devotional service at the lotus feet of Mukunda. [Therefore how could Vṛtrāsura have become such a great devotee?]

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.

Pure Devotional Service Is Rare

  1. 1

    Even demigods situated in goodness hardly ever render pure devotional service at Mukunda’s lotus feet.

  2. 2

    Such pure service is rare even among great saints cleansed of the dirt of material enjoyment.

  3. 3

    This rarity makes Vṛtrāsura’s position as a great devotee especially surprising.

Connected verses· 1

Quoted in the purport ofSB 11.25.24

He quotes from Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (6.14.2), proving that many great demigods in the mode of goodness could not understand the transcendental personality of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

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

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:

In this Fourteenth Chapter, Parīkṣit Mahārāja asks his spiritual master, Śukadeva Gosvāmī, how such a demon as Vṛtrāsura could become an exalted devotee. In this connection the previous life of Vṛtrāsura is discussed.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.14
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. devānāmof the demigods
  2. śuddha-sattvānāmwhose minds are purified
  3. ṛṣīṇāmof great saintly persons
  4. caand
  5. amala-ātmanāmwho have purified their existence
  6. bhaktiḥdevotional service
  7. mukunda-caraṇeto the lotus feet of Mukunda, the Lord, who can give liberation
  8. nanot
  9. prāyeṇaalmost always
  10. upajāyatedevelops
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 6.14

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotee”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 6.14

    In this verse: “material”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 6.14

    In this verse: “cleansed”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do I value pure devotional service beyond simply becoming good or free from material enjoyment?

Practice

Take a quiet moment today to express your desire to serve at Mukunda’s lotus feet.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPure Devotional Service Is RareThis 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 6.14.2? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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