1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 6 · Prescribed Duties for Mankind · 19 chapters

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.14.55

Who is speaking and story frame

न हि क्रमश्चेदिह मृत्युजन्मनो:

शरीरिणामस्तु तदात्मकर्मभि: ।

य: स्‍नेहपाशो निजसर्गवृद्धये

स्वयं कृतस्ते तमिमं विवृश्चसि ॥ ५५ ॥

na hi kramaś ced iha mṛtyu-janmanoḥ

śarīriṇām astu tad ātma-karmabhiḥ

yaḥ sneha-pāśo nija-sarga-vṛddhaye

svayaṁ kṛtas te tam imaṁ vivṛścasi

Translation

My Lord, You may say that there is no law that a father must die in the lifetime of his son and that a son must be born in the lifetime of his father, since everyone lives and dies according to his own fruitive activity. However, if fruitive activity is so strong that birth and death depend upon it, there is no need of a controller, or God. Again, if You say that a controller is needed because the material energy does not have the power to act, one may answer that if the bonds of affection You have created are disturbed by fruitive action, no one will raise children with affection; instead, everyone will cruelly neglect his children. Since You have cut the bonds of affection that compel a parent to raise his child, You appear inexperienced and unintelligent.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Surrender to Kṛṣṇa Beyond Karma

  1. 1

    In her grief, the Queen questions the need for a controller if birth and death depend on fruitive activity. The purport explains that the subtle laws of karma are controlled by the Supreme.

  2. 2

    One who takes to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, devotional service, is not affected by the results of karma. Understanding Kṛṣṇa and His control brings freedom by His grace.

  3. 3

    One should take to devotional service without reservations and surrender everything to the supreme will of the Lord. This brings happiness in this life and the next.

Key points from the purport
  • As stated in the Brahma-saṁhitā, karmāṇi nirdahati kintu ca bhakti-bhājām: one who has taken to Kṛṣṇa consciousness, devotional service, is not affected by the results of karma.
  • In this verse, karma has been stressed on the basis of karma-mīmāṁsā philosophy, which says that one must act according to his karma and that a supreme controller must give the results of karma.
  • One should take to devotional service without reservations and surrender everything to the supreme will of the Lord.

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:

The co-wives of Kṛtadyuti, however, were envious, and later they administered poison to the child. Citraketu was overwhelmed by shock at his son’s death.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.14
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. nanot
  2. hiindeed
  3. kramaḥchronological order
  4. cetif
  5. ihain this material world
  6. mṛtyuof death
  7. janmanoḥand of birth
  8. śarīriṇāmof the conditioned souls, who have accepted material bodies
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

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 6.14

    In this verse: “father”, “children”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 6.14

    In this verse: “death”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What reservation keeps me from surrendering more fully to Kṛṣṇa’s will?

Practice

Offer a brief prayer to Kṛṣṇa, asking to serve Him without reservations.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySurrender to Kṛṣṇa Beyond KarmaThis 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 6.14.55? Get an answer from the verses themselves.