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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 6.16.41

Who is speaking and story frame

विषममतिर्न यत्र नृणां

त्वमहमिति मम तवेति च यदन्यत्र ।

विषमधिया रचितो य:

स ह्यविशुद्ध: क्षयिष्णुरधर्मबहुल: ॥ ४१ ॥

viṣama-matir na yatra nṛṇāṁ

tvam aham iti mama taveti ca yad anyatra

viṣama-dhiyā racito yaḥ

sa hy aviśuddhaḥ kṣayiṣṇur adharma-bahulaḥ

Translation

Being full of contradictions, all forms of religion but bhāgavata-dharma work under conceptions of fruitive results and distinctions of “you and I” and “yours and mine.” The followers of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam have no such consciousness. They are all Kṛṣṇa conscious, thinking that they are Kṛṣṇa’s and Kṛṣṇa is theirs. There are other, low-class religious systems, which are contemplated for the killing of enemies or the gain of mystic power, but such religious systems, being full of passion and envy, are impure and temporary. Because they are full of envy, they are full of irreligion.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Serve Kṛṣṇa Without Envy or Division

  1. 1

    Bhāgavata-dharma means following the Supreme Lord’s orders, rather than insisting on “my belief” and “your belief.” God is one and is for everyone, so everyone should surrender to Him.

  2. 2

    Everything comes from the Supreme and has some use in His service. Bhāgavata-dharma seeks to understand how everything is connected with Kṛṣṇa.

  3. 3

    Pure devotees are not envious of anyone and invite everyone to Kṛṣṇa consciousness. A devotee is a friend of all living entities, without sectarian discrimination.

Key points from the purport
  • There are many instances of this in human history, but systems of religion that do not concentrate upon service to the Supreme are temporary and cannot last for long because they are full of envy.
  • Everything is Brahman because everything can be used for the service of the Supreme Lord.
  • If we scrutinize the religious systems meant for worship of demigods or anyone else but the Supreme Personality of Godhead, we will find that they are full of envy and therefore impure.

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:

They atoned for the sinful act of killing a child and gave up their aspiration to have sons. 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.
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. viṣamaunequal (your religion, my religion; your belief, my belief)
  2. matiḥconsciousness
  3. nanot
  4. yatrain which
  5. nṛṇāmof human society
  6. tvamyou
  7. ahamI
  8. itithus
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 6.16

    In this verse: “religion”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “understand”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotees”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I relate to someone with a different belief as a friend rather than an opponent?

Practice

Use one device you already have to read or share a teaching about service to Kṛṣṇa, without criticizing anyone’s beliefs.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayServe Kṛṣṇa Without Envy or DivisionThis 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 6.16.41? Get an answer from the verses themselves.