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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.
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Canto 6 · Chapter 15: The Saints Nārada and Aṅgirā Instruct King Citraketu
6.15.256.15.27

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.15.26

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Aṅgirāsince 6.15.17inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitAṅgirā and Nārada Muni → King Citraketu

तस्मात् स्वस्थेन मनसा विमृश्य गतिमात्मन: ।

द्वैते ध्रुवार्थविश्रम्भं त्यजोपशममाविश ॥ २६ ॥

tasmāt svasthena manasā

vimṛśya gatim ātmanaḥ

dvaite dhruvārtha-viśrambhaṁ

tyajopaśamam āviśa

Translation

Therefore, O King Citraketu, carefully consider the position of the ātmā. In other words, try to understand who you are — whether body, mind or soul. Consider where you have come from, where you are going after giving up this body, and why you are under the control of material lamentation. Try to understand your real position in this way, and then you will be able to give up your unnecessary attachment. You will also be able to give up the belief that this material world, or anything not directly in touch with service to Kṛṣṇa, is eternal. Thus you will obtain peace.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Self-Understanding Opens the Way to Peace

  1. 1

    Carefully consider whether you are the body, mind or soul, and why material lamentation controls you. Such reflection helps reveal your real position.

  2. 2

    Lord Kṛṣṇa teaches that one is not the body but the owner of the body. Understanding this directs one toward the goal of life.

  3. 3

    Give up the belief that material conditions are everlasting and loosen unnecessary attachment. Peace comes through spiritual understanding, with service to Kṛṣṇa as the goal.

Key points from the purport
  • The Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement includes self-realization because one is first directed by Lord Kṛṣṇa to understand that one is not the body but the owner of the body.
  • Because people are not educated in terms of the goal of life, they are working like madmen and becoming more and more attached to the material atmosphere.
  • One must give up his faith in material things and give up attachment for them.

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 15: The Saints Nārada and Aṅgirā Instruct King Citraketu

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Self-realization means spiritual realization of one’s relationship with Kṛṣṇa. Such realization ends one’s miserable material life.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.15
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tasmāttherefore
  2. svasthenawith a careful
  3. manasāmind
  4. vimṛśyaconsidering
  5. gatimreal position
  6. ātmanaḥof yourself
  7. dvaitein the duality
  8. dhruvaas permanent
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “attachment”, “material”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 6.15

    In this verse: “understand”, “understanding”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 6.15

    In this verse: “give up”

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

How would knowing myself as the owner of the body change what I treat as permanent?

Practice

Take five quiet minutes to reflect on the difference between yourself and your body, and choose one small act of service to Kṛṣṇa.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySelf-Understanding Opens the Way to PeaceThis 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 6.15.26? Get an answer from the verses themselves.