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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.14.58

Who is speaking and story frame

नाहं तनूज दद‍ृशे हतमङ्गला ते

मुग्धस्मितं मुदितवीक्षणमाननाब्जम् ।

किं वा गतोऽस्यपुनरन्वयमन्यलोकं

नीतोऽघृणेन न श‍ृणोमि कला गिरस्ते ॥ ५८ ॥

nāhaṁ tanūja dadṛśe hata-maṅgalā te

mugdha-smitaṁ mudita-vīkṣaṇam ānanābjam

kiṁ vā gato ’sy apunar-anvayam anya-lokaṁ

nīto ’ghṛṇena na śṛṇomi kalā giras te

Translation

My dear son, I am certainly most unfortunate, for I can no longer see your mild smiling. You have closed your eyes forever. I therefore conclude that you have been taken from this planet to another, from which you will not return. My dear son, I can no longer hear your pleasing voice.

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.

Separation Makes Simple Joys Precious

  1. 1

    The Queen feels most unfortunate because she can no longer see her son’s mild smile.

  2. 2

    Seeing that his eyes are closed forever, she concludes that he has been taken to another planet and will not return.

  3. 3

    She laments that she can no longer hear his pleasing voice.

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:

Citraketu was overwhelmed by shock at his son’s death. Then Nārada Muni and Aṅgirā went to see him.
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. ahamI
  3. tanū-jamy dear son (born of my body)
  4. dadṛśesaw
  5. hata-maṅgalābecause of my being the most unfortunate
  6. teyour
  7. mugdha-smitamwith charming smiling
  8. mudita-vīkṣaṇamwith closed eyes
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Nirodha · Returning home, back to Godhead

    What happens when everything here comes to an end? · Subject 8 of 10

  • Viraha · Longing in separation

    Love and remembrance experienced in apparent absence. · Theme in SB 6.14

    In this verse: “laments”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do I appreciate the smiles and voices of those close to me?

Practice

Listen attentively to someone dear to you today, without distractions.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySeparation Makes Simple Joys PreciousThis 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 6.14.58? Get an answer from the verses themselves.