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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.
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Canto 6 · Chapter 16: King Citraketu Meets the Supreme Lord
6.16.286.16.30

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.16.29

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 6.16.26inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तत: कतिपयाहोभिर्विद्ययेद्धमनोगति: ।

जगाम देवदेवस्य शेषस्य चरणान्तिकम् ॥ २९ ॥

tataḥ katipayāhobhir

vidyayeddha-mano-gatiḥ

jagāma deva-devasya

śeṣasya caraṇāntikam

Translation

Thereafter, within a very few days, by the influence of the mantra that Citraketu had practiced, his mind became increasingly enlightened in spiritual progress, and he attained shelter at the lotus feet of Anantadeva.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Seek Shelter, Not Material Profit

  1. 1

    Through practicing the mantra, Citraketu became increasingly enlightened and attained shelter at Anantadeva’s lotus feet. Shelter at the Lord’s lotus feet is a devotee’s ultimate achievement.

  2. 2

    Resources used in the Lord’s devotional service are spiritual, not material. A devotee receives opulence when it is needed to help spiritual advancement.

  3. 3

    A pure devotee serves Lord Viṣṇu without asking for material profit. Citraketu wanted only to return home, back to Godhead, and achieved that goal.

Key points from the purport
  • When a devotee is actually engaged in the devotional service of the Lord, his apparently material opulences are not material; they are all spiritual.
  • Thus Mahārāja Citraketu remained in material opulence as a vidyādhara-pati, master of the Vidyādharas, and by executing devotional service he became perfect within a very few days and returned home, back to Godhead, taking shelter of the lotus feet of Lord Śeṣa, Ananta.
  • Instead he serves Lord Viṣṇu without material desires and is therefore ultimately transferred to the spiritual kingdom.

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:

When Citraketu was appeased, the great sage Nārada gave him a mantra, and by chanting this mantra Citraketu found shelter at the lotus feet of Saṅkarṣaṇa. The living entity is eternal.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.16
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tataḥthereafter
  2. katipaya-ahobhiḥwithin a few days
  3. vidyayāby the spiritual mantra
  4. iddha-manaḥ-gatiḥthe course of his mind being enlightened
  5. jagāmawent
  6. deva-devasyaof the master of all other lords or demigods
  7. śeṣasyaLord Śeṣa
  8. caraṇa-antikamto the shelter of the lotus feet
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotee’s”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

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

    In this verse: “shelter”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 6.16

    In this verse: “material”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How could something you possess become an aid to devotional service rather than an object of attachment?

Practice

Use a small amount of your time or resources today in the Lord’s service, without seeking material profit.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySeek Shelter, Not Material ProfitThis 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 6.16.29? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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