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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
6.16.306.16.32

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.16.31

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

तद्दर्शनध्वस्तसमस्तकिल्बिष:

स्वस्थामलान्त:करणोऽभ्ययान्मुनि: ।

प्रवृद्धभक्त्या प्रणयाश्रुलोचन:

प्रहृष्टरोमानमदादिपुरुषम् ॥ ३१ ॥

tad-darśana-dhvasta-samasta-kilbiṣaḥ

svasthāmalāntaḥkaraṇo ’bhyayān muniḥ

pravṛddha-bhaktyā praṇayāśru-locanaḥ

prahṛṣṭa-romānamad ādi-puruṣam

Translation

As soon as Mahārāja Citraketu saw the Supreme Lord, he was cleansed of all material contamination and situated in his original Kṛṣṇa consciousness, being completely purified. He became silent and grave, and because of love for the Lord, tears fell from his eyes, and his hairs stood on end. With great devotion and love, he offered his respectful obeisances unto the original Personality of Godhead.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Seeing the Lord Purifies the Heart

  1. 1

    Seeing the Supreme Lord cleansed Citraketu of all material contamination and restored his original Kṛṣṇa consciousness. With love and devotion, he offered respectful obeisances.

  2. 2

    Regularly visiting the temple and seeing the Deity gradually cleanses one of material desires.

  3. 3

    Freedom from the results of sinful activities brings purification and a healthy, cleansed mind. In this condition, one makes increasing progress in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Key points from the purport
  • The word tad-darśana-dhvasta-samasta-kilbiṣaḥ is very important in this verse.
  • If one regularly sees the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the temple, one will gradually be disinfected of all material desires simply by visiting the temple and seeing the Deity.
  • When one is freed from all the results of sinful activities, one will be purified, and with a healthy mind, completely cleansed, he will increasingly make progress in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

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:

In the presence of Lord Saṅkarṣaṇa, Citraketu offered his obeisances and began to offer prayers. In his prayers, Citraketu said that millions of universes rest in the pores of Saṅkarṣaṇa, who is limitless, having no beginning and end.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.16
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tat-darśanaby the sight of the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  2. dhvastadestroyed
  3. samasta-kilbiṣaḥhaving all sins
  4. svasthahealthy
  5. amalaand pure
  6. antaḥkaraṇaḥthe core of whose heart
  7. abhyayātapproached face to face
  8. muniḥthe King, who was silent due to full mental satisfaction
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

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 6.16

    In this verse: “purified”, “cleansed”, “contamination”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotion”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How could regularly seeing the Deity become part of your effort to purify your heart?

Practice

If possible, visit a temple today, see the Deity attentively, and offer respectful obeisances.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySeeing the Lord Purifies the HeartThis 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 6.16.31? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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