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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
6.16.466.16.48

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.16.47

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Citraketusince 6.16.34inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

नमस्तुभ्यं भगवते

सकलजगत्स्थितिलयोदयेशाय ।

दुरवसितात्मगतये

कुयोगिनां भिदा परमहंसाय ॥ ४७ ॥

namas tubhyaṁ bhagavate

sakala-jagat-sthiti-layodayeśāya

duravasitātma-gataye

kuyogināṁ bhidā paramahaṁsāya

Translation

My dear Lord, You are the creator, maintainer and annihilator of this cosmic manifestation, but persons who are too materialistic and who always see separateness do not have eyes with which to see You. They cannot understand Your real position, and therefore they conclude that the cosmic manifestation is independent of Your opulence. My Lord, You are the supreme pure, and You are full in all six opulences. Therefore I offer my respectful obeisances unto You.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

See Creation in Relation to the Lord

  1. 1

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead creates, maintains and annihilates the cosmic manifestation. It is not independent of His opulence.

  2. 2

    Those who are too attached to material sense enjoyment cannot understand the Lord’s real position. They regard creation as a chance combination of matter without reference to God.

  3. 3

    The Lord is the supreme pure and is full in all six opulences. The prayer therefore offers Him respectful obeisances.

Key points from the purport
  • Materialistic so-called chemists and atheistic philosophers always try to avoid even the name of God in relation to the cosmic manifestation.
  • The Supreme Personality of Godhead is paramahaṁsa, or the supreme pure, whereas those who are sinful, being very much attached to material sense enjoyment and therefore engaging in material activities like asses, are the lowest of men.
  • Thus they cannot understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. namaḥall obeisances
  2. tubhyamunto You
  3. bhagavateYour Lordship
  4. sakalaall
  5. jagatof the cosmic manifestation
  6. sthitiof the maintenance
  7. layadissolution
  8. udayaand creation
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Āśraya · The summum bonum

    Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “materialistic”, “attached”, “material”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “understand”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do I tend to view the world as independent of the Lord?

Practice

Offer respectful obeisances today, remembering the Lord as the creator, maintainer and annihilator of the universe.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySee Creation in Relation to the 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 6.16.47? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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