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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
6.16.53-546.16.56

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.16.55

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
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

येन प्रसुप्त: पुरुष: स्वापं वेदात्मनस्तदा ।

सुखं च निर्गुणं ब्रह्म तमात्मानमवेहि माम् ॥ ५५ ॥

yena prasuptaḥ puruṣaḥ

svāpaṁ vedātmanas tadā

sukhaṁ ca nirguṇaṁ brahma

tam ātmānam avehi mām

Translation

Know Me to be the Supreme Brahman, the all-pervading Supersoul through whom the sleeping living entity can understand his dreaming condition and his happiness beyond the activities of the material senses. That is to say, I am the cause of the activities of the sleeping living being.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Sustains Awareness Beyond the Senses

  1. 1

    When freed from false ego, the living entity understands his superior position as a spirit soul. He is part and parcel of the Lord’s pleasure potency.

  2. 2

    Due to Brahman, the living entity can experience happiness even while sleeping. The Lord enables awareness of dreams and happiness beyond the activities of the material senses.

  3. 3

    The Lord identifies Brahman, Paramātmā and Bhagavān with Himself. He is the Supreme Brahman and the all-pervading Supersoul.

Key points from the purport
  • When the living entity becomes free from false ego, he understands his superior position as a spirit soul, part and parcel of the pleasure potency of the Lord.
  • Thus, due to Brahman, even while sleeping the living entity can enjoy.
  • The Lord says, “That Brahman, that Paramātmā and that Bhagavān are I Myself.”

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. yenaby whom (the Supreme Brahman)
  2. prasuptaḥsleeping
  3. puruṣaḥa man
  4. svāpamthe subject of a dream
  5. vedaknows
  6. ātmanaḥof himself
  7. tadāat that time
  8. sukhamhappiness
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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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “understand”, “spirit soul”, “understands”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 6.16

    In this verse: “false ego”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does understanding myself as a spirit soul change the way I view happiness?

Practice

Take one quiet minute to reflect: “I am a spirit soul, part and parcel of the Lord’s pleasure potency.”

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Sustains Awareness Beyond the SensesThis 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 6.16.55? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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