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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 16: King Citraketu Meets the Supreme Lord
6.16.166.16.18-19

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.16.17

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 6.16.12inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitAṅgirā and Nārada Muni → King Citraketu

अथ तस्मै प्रपन्नाय भक्ताय प्रयतात्मने ।

भगवान्नारद: प्रीतो विद्यामेतामुवाच ह ॥ १७ ॥

atha tasmai prapannāya

bhaktāya prayatātmane

bhagavān nāradaḥ prīto

vidyām etām uvāca ha

Translation

Thereafter, being very much pleased with Citraketu, who was a self-controlled devotee and surrendered soul, Nārada, the most powerful sage, spoke to him the following transcendental instructions.

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.

Surrender and Self-Control Please the Spiritual Teacher

  1. 1

    Citraketu is described as a devotee and a surrendered soul.

  2. 2

    He was also self-controlled. Nārada was very pleased with him.

  3. 3

    The powerful sage Nārada then spoke transcendental instructions to Citraketu. The verse presents his devotion, surrender and self-control as the setting for receiving instruction.

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 16: King Citraketu Meets the Supreme Lord

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The living entity is actually a spiritual soul who is part and parcel of God and has nothing to do with relationships in the world of duality. Therefore Nārada Muni advised Citraketu not to lament for his so-called dead son.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.16
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. athathereafter
  2. tasmaiunto him
  3. prapannāyawho was surrendered
  4. bhaktāyabeing a devotee
  5. prayata-ātmanewho was self-controlled
  6. bhagavānthe most powerful
  7. nāradaḥNārada
  8. prītaḥbeing very pleased
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 6.16

    In this verse: “devotee”, “devotion”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 6.16

    In this verse: “surrendered”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Which needs more attention in my learning: devotion, surrender or self-control?

Practice

Set aside a short, distraction-free period today to receive spiritual instruction with a willing mind.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySurrender and Self-Control Please the Spiritual TeacherThis 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 6.16.17? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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