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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 ›
Canto 6 · Chapter 16: King Citraketu Meets the Supreme Lord
6.16.246.16.26

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.16.25

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

ॐ नमो भगवते महापुरुषाय महानुभावाय महाविभूतिपतये सकलसात्वतपरिवृढनिकर करकमलकुड्‌मलोपलालितचरणारविन्दयुगल परमपरमेष्ठिन्नमस्ते ॥ २५ ॥

oṁ namo bhagavate mahā-puruṣāya mahānubhāvāya mahā-vibhūti-pataye sakala-sātvata-parivṛḍha-nikara-kara-kamala-kuḍmalopalālita-caraṇāravinda-yugala parama-parameṣṭhin namas te.

Translation

O transcendental Lord, who are situated in the topmost planet of the spiritual world, Your two lotus feet are always massaged by a multitude of the best devotees with their lotus-bud hands. You are the Supreme Personality of Godhead, complete in six opulences. You are the supreme person mentioned in the Puruṣa-sūkta prayers. You are the most perfect, self-realized master of all mystic power. Let me offer my respectful obeisances unto You.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Accepts Humble Service

  1. 1

    The Absolute Truth is one, manifested as Brahman, Paramātmā and Bhagavān. This prayer is offered in bhakti-yoga to the Absolute Supreme Person.

  2. 2

    The Lord is complete in six opulences and is the master of all mystic power. His devotees serve His lotus feet with their lotus hands.

  3. 3

    No one is competent to serve the Supreme Lord by personal ability alone. Yet the merciful Lord accepts the devotee’s humble attempt.

Key points from the purport
  • The devotees may sometimes not be competent to serve the lotus feet of the Lord, and therefore the Lord is addressed as parama-parameṣṭhin.
  • He is the Supreme Person, yet He is very kind to the devotees.
  • No one is competent to serve the Lord, but even if a devotee is not competent, the merciful Lord accepts the humble attempt of the devotee.

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 16: King Citraketu Meets the Supreme Lord

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Thereafter, Nārada Muni chanted prayers to Nārāyaṇa, who exists as catur-vyūha, and instructed Citraketu about the Supreme Lord, who creates, maintains and annihilates everything and who is the master of the material nature. After instructing King Citraketu in this way, he returned to Brahmaloka.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.16
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. omO Supreme Personality of Godhead
  2. namaḥrespectful obeisances
  3. bhagavateunto You, the Lord, who are full in six opulences
  4. mahā-puruṣāyathe supreme enjoyer
  5. mahā-anubhāvāyathe most perfect realized soul, or the Supersoul
  6. mahā-vibhūti-patayethe master of all mystic power
  7. sakala-sātvata-parivṛḍhaof all the best devotees
  8. nikaraof the multitude
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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: “devotees”, “bhakti-yoga”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 6.16

    In this verse: “absolute truth”

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 6.16

    In this verse: “humble”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Does feeling unqualified keep you from making a humble attempt to serve the Lord?

Practice

Offer one brief, sincere prayer of service today, trusting the Lord’s kindness rather than your own ability.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Accepts Humble ServiceThis 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.

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