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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
6.16.586.16.60

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.16.59

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

स्मृत्वेहायां परिक्लेशं तत: फलविपर्ययम् ।

अभयं चाप्यनीहायां सङ्कल्पाद्विरमेत्कवि: ॥ ५९ ॥

smṛtvehāyāṁ parikleśaṁ

tataḥ phala-viparyayam

abhayaṁ cāpy anīhāyāṁ

saṅkalpād viramet kaviḥ

Translation

Remembering the great trouble found in the field of activities performed for fruitive results, and remembering how one receives the reverse of the results one desires — whether from material actions or from the fruitive activities recommended in the Vedic literatures — an intelligent man should cease from the desire for fruitive actions, for by such endeavors one cannot achieve the ultimate goal of life. On the other hand, if one acts without desires for fruitive results — in other words, if one engages in devotional activities — he can achieve the highest goal of life with freedom from miserable conditions. Considering this, one should cease from material desires.

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.

Choose Devotion Over Fruitive Desires

  1. 1

    Activities performed for fruitive results bring great trouble and can produce the opposite of what one desires. This applies both to material actions and to fruitive activities recommended in Vedic literature.

  2. 2

    An intelligent person considers these difficulties and gives up the desire for fruitive results. Such endeavors cannot achieve the ultimate goal of life.

  3. 3

    Devotional activities performed without desire for fruitive results lead to the highest goal of life. They bring freedom from miserable conditions.

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. smṛtvāremembering
  2. īhāyāmin the field of activities with fruitive results
  3. parikleśamthe waste of energy and the miserable conditions
  4. tataḥfrom that
  5. phala-viparyayamthe opposite of the desired result
  6. abhayamfearlessness
  7. caalso
  8. apiindeed
3

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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What result am I seeking that may be distracting me from devotional service itself?

Practice

Perform one small devotional activity today without asking for a material reward.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayChoose Devotion Over Fruitive DesiresThis 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 6.16.59? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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