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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.16.7

Who is speaking and story frame

नित्यस्यार्थस्य सम्बन्धो ह्यनित्यो द‍ृश्यते नृषु ।

यावद्यस्य हि सम्बन्धो ममत्वं तावदेव हि ॥ ७ ॥

nityasyārthasya sambandho

hy anityo dṛśyate nṛṣu

yāvad yasya hi sambandho

mamatvaṁ tāvad eva hi

Translation

A few living entities are born in the human species, and others are born as animals. Although both are living entities, their relationships are impermanent. An animal may remain in the custody of a human being for some time, and then the same animal may be transferred to the possession of other human beings. As soon as the animal goes away, the former proprietor no longer has a sense of ownership. As long as the animal is in his possession he certainly has an affinity for it, but as soon as the animal is sold, the affinity is lost.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Soul Endures Beyond Temporary Relationships

  1. 1

    Relationships between living entities are impermanent even within this life. The example of an animal changing owners shows how ownership and affinity change.

  2. 2

    The living entity is eternal, but the temporary bodily dress hides this eternity. The body passes through boyhood, youth and old age.

  3. 3

    The living entity remained Citraketu’s son for some time. When he was transferred to another body, that affectionate bodily relationship was broken.

Key points from the purport
  • Aside from the fact that the soul transmigrates from one body to another, even in this life the relationships between living entities are impermanent, as exemplified in this verse.
  • The living entity is certainly eternal, but because he is covered by a temporary dress, the body, his eternity is not observed.
  • As an animal is transferred from one owner to another, the living entity who was the son of Citraketu lived as his son for some time, but as soon as he was transferred to another body, the affectionate relationship was broken.

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:

According to the reactions of one’s fruitive activities, one takes birth in various species of life among the birds, beasts, trees, human beings, demigods and so on, thus rotating through various bodies. For a certain period of time, one receives a particular type of body as a son or father in a false relationship.
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. nityasyaof the eternal
  2. arthasyathing
  3. sambandhaḥrelationship
  4. hiindeed
  5. anityaḥtemporary
  6. dṛśyateis seen
  7. nṛṣuin human society
  8. yāvatas long as
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Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What helps me distinguish the enduring living entity from a changing bodily relationship?

Practice

Recall one change from childhood to the present and reflect that the living entity continues while the body changes.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Soul Endures Beyond Temporary RelationshipsThis 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 6.16.7? Get an answer from the verses themselves.