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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.16.34

Who is speaking and story frame

चित्रकेतुरुवाच

अजित जित: सममतिभि:

साधुभिर्भवान् जितात्मभिर्भवता ।

विजितास्तेऽपि च भजता-

मकामात्मनां य आत्मदोऽतिकरुण: ॥ ३४ ॥

citraketur uvāca

ajita jitaḥ sama-matibhiḥ

sādhubhir bhavān jitātmabhir bhavatā

vijitās te ’pi ca bhajatām

akāmātmanāṁ ya ātmado ’ti-karuṇaḥ

Translation

Citraketu said: O unconquerable Lord, although You cannot be conquered by anyone, You are certainly conquered by devotees who have control of the mind and senses. They can keep You under their control because You are causelessly merciful to devotees who desire no material profit from You. Indeed, You give Yourself to them, and because of this You also have full control over Your devotees.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Pure Service Conquers the Unconquerable Lord

  1. 1

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead is conquered only by pure devotees, and they are conquered by Him. Both experience transcendental bliss in this relationship, whose highest perfection appears in Kṛṣṇa and the gopīs.

  2. 2

    Pure devotees continue devotional service in both happiness and distress. Their service is unmotivated and uninterrupted, not dependent on favorable material conditions.

  3. 3

    Devotees desire neither oneness with the Lord nor material profit; they desire to remain His eternal servants. When they fully surrender, the merciful Lord gives Himself to them and provides opportunities for service.

Key points from the purport
  • Thus they are unable to conquer the Supreme Lord, whereas devotees, being freed from such unreasonable desires, can conquer the Lord.
  • Because they are pure, being free from all material desires, they fully surrender to the Supreme Lord, and therefore the Lord conquers them.
  • This is the position of the Lord when conquered by His devotees.

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. citraketuḥ uvācaKing Citraketu said
  2. ajitaO my unconquerable Lord
  3. jitaḥconquered
  4. sama-matibhiḥby persons who have conquered the mind
  5. sādhubhiḥthe devotees
  6. bhavānYour Lordship
  7. jita-ātmabhiḥwho have completely controlled the senses
  8. bhavatāby You
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 6.16

    In this verse: “merciful”, “causelessly”, “favorable”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotees”, “devotional service”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Would you continue your devotional service even without the material result you hoped for?

Practice

Offer one short prayer today asking only for an opportunity to serve the Lord.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

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Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Live this todayPure Service Conquers the Unconquerable LordThis 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 6.16.34? Get an answer from the verses themselves.