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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
6.16.496.16.51

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.16.50

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Anantadevasince 6.16.50inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीभगवानुवाच

यन्नारदाङ्गिरोभ्यां ते व्याहृतं मेऽनुशासनम् ।

संसिद्धोऽसि तया राजन् विद्यया दर्शनाच्च मे ॥ ५० ॥

śrī-bhagavān uvāca

yan nāradāṅgirobhyāṁ te

vyāhṛtaṁ me ’nuśāsanam

saṁsiddho ’si tayā rājan

vidyayā darśanāc ca me

Translation

The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Anantadeva, replied as follows: O King, as a result of your having accepted the instructions spoken about Me by the great sages Nārada and Aṅgirā, you have become completely aware of transcendental knowledge. Because you are now educated in the spiritual science, you have seen Me face to face. Therefore you are now completely perfect.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Service and Guidance Reveal the Lord

  1. 1

    By accepting the instructions of Nārada and Aṅgirā, the King became educated in spiritual science and saw the Lord face to face. Spiritual education includes understanding the Lord and His creation, maintenance and annihilation of the universe.

  2. 2

    Through association with perfect devotees and their disciplic succession, one can develop love of Godhead. Following the spiritual master’s instructions and serving the Lord qualify one to see Him.

  3. 3

    Materially contaminated senses cannot understand Śrī Kṛṣṇa’s transcendental name, form, qualities and pastimes. Through devotional service these are revealed, and the unlimited Lord becomes visible by His causeless mercy.

Key points from the purport
  • Then one is able to see the unlimited Supreme Personality of Godhead face to face.
  • In our present position of conditioned life we cannot see or understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • Thus one becomes qualified and later sees the Supreme Personality of Godhead, as evinced by Mahārāja Citraketu.

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:

Unless one becomes a devotee, one cannot understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead. After Citraketu finished his prayers, the unlimited Supreme Lord explained knowledge of Himself to Citraketu.
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. śrī-bhagavān uvācathe Supreme Personality of Godhead, Saṅkarṣaṇa, replied
  2. yatwhich
  3. nārada-aṅgirobhyāmby the great sages Nārada and Aṅgirā
  4. teunto you
  5. vyāhṛtamspoken
  6. meof Me
  7. anuśāsanamthe worship
  8. saṁsiddhaḥcompletely perfected
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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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “knowledge”, “understanding”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 6.16

    In this verse: “king”

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I approaching spiritual knowledge as guidance for loving service to the Lord?

Practice

Reread one instruction about serving the Lord from this purport and choose one small way to follow it today.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayService and Guidance Reveal 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 6.16.50? Get an answer from the verses themselves.