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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 · Texts 6.15.21-23

अधुना पुत्रिणां तापो भवतैवानुभूयते ।

एवं दारा गृहा रायो विविधैश्वर्यसम्पद: ॥ २१ ॥

शब्दादयश्च विषयाश्चला राज्यविभूतय: ।

मही राज्यं बलं कोषो भृत्यामात्यसुहृज्जना: ॥ २२ ॥

सर्वेऽपि शूरसेनेमे शोकमोहभयार्तिदा: ।

गन्धर्वनगरप्रख्या: स्वप्नमायामनोरथा: ॥ २३ ॥

adhunā putriṇāṁ tāpo

bhavataivānubhūyate

evaṁ dārā gṛhā rāyo

vividhaiśvarya-sampadaḥ

śabdādayaś ca viṣayāś

calā rājya-vibhūtayaḥ

mahī rājyaṁ balaṁ koṣo

bhṛtyāmātya-suhṛj-janāḥ

sarve ’pi śūraseneme

śoka-moha-bhayārtidāḥ

gandharva-nagara-prakhyāḥ

svapna-māyā-manorathāḥ

Translation

My dear King, now you are actually experiencing the misery of a person who has sons and daughters. O King, owner of the state of Śūrasena, one’s wife, his house, the opulence of his kingdom, and his various other opulences and objects of sense perception are all the same in that they are temporary. One’s kingdom, military power, treasury, servants, ministers, friends and relatives are all causes of fear, illusion, lamentation and distress. They are like a gandharva-nagara, a nonexistent palace that one imagines to exist in the forest. Because they are impermanent, they are no better than illusions, dreams and mental concoctions.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Lasting Shelter Lies in Devotional Service

  1. 1

    The body, family, wealth and other possessions are temporary. Though we may expect protection from them, they cannot provide it.

  2. 2

    The soul must leave its present situation and accept another body. Even a favorable next situation must eventually be given up.

  3. 3

    One must become situated in one's spiritual identity and eternally serve the Supreme Personality of Godhead as a devotee. Temporary possessions cannot give lasting happiness.

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.