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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 15: The Saints Nārada and Aṅgirā Instruct King Citraketu
6.15.106.15.12-15

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.15.11

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:King Citraketusince 6.15.10inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

चरन्ति ह्यवनौ कामं ब्राह्मणा भगवत्प्रिया: ।

माद‍ृशां ग्राम्यबुद्धीनां बोधायोन्मत्तलिङ्गिन: ॥ ११ ॥

caranti hy avanau kāmaṁ

brāhmaṇā bhagavat-priyāḥ

mādṛśāṁ grāmya-buddhīnāṁ

bodhāyonmatta-liṅginaḥ

Translation

Brāhmaṇas who are exalted to the position of Vaiṣṇavas, the most dear servants of Kṛṣṇa, sometimes dress like madmen. Just to benefit materialists like us, who are always attached to sense gratification, and just to dissipate our ignorance, these Vaiṣṇavas wander on the surface of the globe according to their desire.

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.

Vaiṣṇavas Wander to Awaken Us

  1. 1

    Exalted Vaiṣṇavas are the most dear servants of Kṛṣṇa. They sometimes dress like madmen.

  2. 2

    These Vaiṣṇavas wander freely over the earth to benefit people attached to sense gratification.

  3. 3

    Their purpose is to dissipate ignorance and awaken those absorbed in temporary material concerns.

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 15: The Saints Nārada and Aṅgirā Instruct King Citraketu

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

By a temporary arrangement, a father begets a child, or a living entity becomes the child of a so-called father. This temporary arrangement is made by the Supreme Lord.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.15
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. carantiwander
  2. hiindeed
  3. avanauon the surface of the world
  4. kāmamaccording to desire
  5. brāhmaṇāḥthe brāhmaṇas
  6. bhagavat-priyāḥwho are also Vaiṣṇavas, very dear to the Personality of Godhead
  7. mā-dṛśāmof those like me
  8. grāmya-buddhīnāmwho are obsessed with temporary material consciousness
  9. bodhāyafor the awakening
  10. unmatta-liṅginaḥwho dress as if madmen
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 6.15

    In this verse: “attached”, “sense gratification”, “materialists”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Could someone's unusual appearance keep me from receiving helpful spiritual instruction?

Practice

Read this translation slowly once, noticing the compassionate purpose of the Vaiṣṇavas.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayVaiṣṇavas Wander to Awaken UsThis 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 6.15.11? Get an answer from the verses themselves.