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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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Canto 6 · Chapter 16: King Citraketu Meets the Supreme Lord
6.16.576.16.59

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.16.58

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

लब्ध्वेह मानुषीं योनिं ज्ञानविज्ञानसम्भवाम् ।

आत्मानं यो न बुद्ध्येत न क्‍वचित्क्षेममाप्नुयात् ॥ ५८ ॥

labdhveha mānuṣīṁ yoniṁ

jñāna-vijñāna-sambhavām

ātmānaṁ yo na buddhyeta

na kvacit kṣemam āpnuyāt

Translation

A human being can attain perfection in life by self-realization through the Vedic literature and its practical application. This is possible especially for a human being born in India, the land of piety. A man who obtains birth in such a convenient position but does not understand his self is unable to achieve the highest perfection, even if he is exalted to life in the higher planetary systems.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Apply Spiritual Knowledge and Help Others

  1. 1

    Human life offers the opportunity for self-realization through Vedic literature and its practical application. Birth in India, the land of piety, is especially favorable for this.

  2. 2

    Without understanding one’s real self, one cannot attain the highest perfection. Even elevation to higher planetary systems does not replace self-realization.

  3. 3

    One should make one’s own life successful and then help others toward self-realization. The purport describes this as the best humanitarian work.

Key points from the purport
  • Everyone born in India, especially as a human being, can achieve the supreme success through the Vedic literature and its practical application in life.
  • When one is perfect, he can render a service for the self-realization of the entire human society.
  • This is the best way to perform humanitarian work.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 6.16.58 quotesCC Ādi 9.41

This statement is confirmed in Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Ādi 9.41).

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. labdhvāachieving
  2. ihain this material world (especially in this pious land of Bhārata-varṣa, India)
  3. mānuṣīmthe human
  4. yonimspecies
  5. jñānaof knowledge through Vedic scriptures
  6. vijñānaand practical application of that knowledge in life
  7. sambhavāmwherein there is a possibility
  8. ātmānamone’s real identity
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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: “understand”, “understanding”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 6.16

    In this verse: “favorable”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What spiritual teaching have I understood but not yet put into practice?

Practice

Reread one teaching from these notes and choose one concrete way to apply it today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayApply Spiritual Knowledge and Help OthersThis 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 6.16.58? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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