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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
6.16.61-626.16.64

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.16.63

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

एतावानेव मनुजैर्योगनैपुण्यबुद्धिभि: ।

स्वार्थ: सर्वात्मना ज्ञेयो यत्परात्मैकदर्शनम् ॥ ६३ ॥

etāvān eva manujair

yoga-naipuṇya-buddhibhiḥ

svārthaḥ sarvātmanā jñeyo

yat parātmaika-darśanam

Translation

Persons who try to reach the ultimate goal of life must expertly observe the Supreme Absolute Person and the living entity, who are one in quality in their relationship as part and whole. This is the ultimate understanding of life. There is no better truth than this.

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.

Understand the Soul’s Relationship with the Supreme

  1. 1

    Those seeking life’s ultimate goal should carefully understand the Supreme Absolute Person and the living entity.

  2. 2

    They are one in quality, with the living entity related to the Supreme as a part to the whole. Their shared quality does not remove this relationship.

  3. 3

    Understanding this relationship is the ultimate understanding of life. The translation declares that there is no better truth.

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:

These instructions about the Absolute Truth are called the mahā-vidyā. After being initiated by Nārada Muni, King Citraketu chanted the mahā-vidyā, and after one week he attained the presence of Lord Saṅkarṣaṇa, who was surrounded by the four Kumāras.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.16
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. etāvānthis much
  2. evaindeed
  3. manujaiḥby human beings
  4. yogaby the process of linking with the Supreme by bhakti-yoga
  5. naipuṇyaendowed with expertise
  6. buddhibhiḥwho have intelligence
  7. sva-arthaḥthe ultimate goal of life
  8. sarva-ātmanāby all means
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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “understanding”, “understand”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does seeing myself as a part of the Supreme change my sense of purpose?

Practice

Spend one quiet minute reflecting: “I am a part, and the Supreme Absolute Person is the whole.”

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayUnderstand the Soul’s Relationship with the SupremeThis 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 6.16.63? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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