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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
6.16.476.16.49

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.16.48

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

यं वै श्वसन्तमनु विश्वसृज: श्वसन्ति

यं चेकितानमनु चित्तय उच्चकन्ति ।

भूमण्डलं सर्षपायति यस्य मूर्ध्नि

तस्मै नमो भगवतेऽस्तु सहस्रमूर्ध्ने ॥ ४८ ॥

yaṁ vai śvasantam anu viśva-sṛjaḥ śvasanti

yaṁ cekitānam anu cittaya uccakanti

bhū-maṇḍalaṁ sarṣapāyati yasya mūrdhni

tasmai namo bhagavate ’stu sahasra-mūrdhne

Translation

My dear Lord, it is after You endeavor that Lord Brahmā, Indra and the other directors of the cosmic manifestation become occupied with their activities. It is after You perceive the material energy, My Lord, that the senses begin to perceive. The Supreme Personality of Godhead holds all the universes on His heads like seeds of mustard. I offer my respectful obeisances unto You, that Supreme Personality, who has thousands of hoods.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

All Activity Depends on the Supreme Lord

  1. 1

    Lord Brahmā, Indra and the other directors of the cosmic manifestation act only after the Lord endeavors. Their activities depend on Him.

  2. 2

    The senses begin to perceive only after the Lord perceives the material energy. Even perception depends on the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  3. 3

    The Lord holds all the universes on His heads like mustard seeds. The prayer offers respectful obeisances to that Supreme Personality, who has thousands of hoods.

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. yamwhom
  2. vaiindeed
  3. śvasantamendeavoring
  4. anuafter
  5. viśva-sṛjaḥthe directors of the cosmic creation
  6. śvasantialso endeavor
  7. yamwhom
  8. cekitānamperceiving
3

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: “material”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How might remembering my dependence on the Lord change my attitude toward my abilities?

Practice

Before one activity today, pause to acknowledge your dependence on the Lord and offer Him respectful obeisances.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayAll Activity Depends on the Supreme 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.

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