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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.
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Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.16.56

Who is speaking and story frame

उभयं स्मरत: पुंस: प्रस्वापप्रतिबोधयो: ।

अन्वेति व्यतिरिच्येत तज्ज्ञानं ब्रह्म तत्परम् ॥ ५६ ॥

ubhayaṁ smarataḥ puṁsaḥ

prasvāpa-pratibodhayoḥ

anveti vyatiricyeta

taj jñānaṁ brahma tat param

Translation

If one’s dreams during sleep are merely subject matters witnessed by the Supersoul, how can the living entity, who is different from the Supersoul, remember the activities of dreams? The experiences of one person cannot be understood by another. Therefore the knower of the facts, the living entity who inquires into the incidents manifested in dreams and wakefulness, is different from the circumstantial activities. That knowing factor is Brahman. In other words, the quality of knowing belongs to the living entities and to the Supreme Soul. Thus the living entity can also experience the activities of dreams and wakefulness. In both stages the knower is unchanged, but is qualitatively one with the Supreme Brahman.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

One in Quality, Different in Quantity

  1. 1

    The living entity can remember past dreams and know present waking activities. The knower remains unchanged through these changing experiences.

  2. 2

    The quality of knowing belongs both to the living entity and to the Supreme Soul. In knowledge, the living entity is qualitatively one with the Supreme Brahman.

  3. 3

    This sameness of quality does not mean sameness of quantity. The living entity is part of Brahman, not equal in quantity to the Supreme Brahman.

Key points from the purport
  • In knowledge the living entity is qualitatively one with the Supreme Brahman, but the quantity of the Supreme Brahman is not the same as that of the living entity, who is part of Brahman.
  • Because the living entity is Brahman in quality, he can remember the past activities of dreams and also know the present activities of wakefulness.

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. ubhayamboth types of consciousness (sleep and wakefulness)
  2. smarataḥremembering
  3. puṁsaḥof the person
  4. prasvāpaof consciousness during sleep
  5. pratibodhayoḥand of consciousness while awake
  6. anvetiextends through
  7. vyatiricyetamay reach beyond
  8. tatthat
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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: “inquires”, “knowledge”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I recognize my spiritual quality without thinking myself equal to the Supreme?

Practice

Recall a dream and one waking experience, then reflect on how you are the knower of both, distinct from the changing experiences.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayOne in Quality, Different in QuantityThis 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 6.16.56? Get an answer from the verses themselves.