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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
6.16.76.16.9

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.16.8

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Nārada Munisince 6.16.2inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitAṅgirā and Nārada Muni → King Citraketu

एवं योनिगतो जीव: स नित्यो निरहङ्‌कृत: ।

यावद्यत्रोपलभ्येत तावत्स्वत्वं हि तस्य तत् ॥ ८ ॥

evaṁ yoni-gato jīvaḥ

sa nityo nirahaṅkṛtaḥ

yāvad yatropalabhyeta

tāvat svatvaṁ hi tasya tat

Translation

Even though one living entity becomes connected with another because of a relationship based on bodies that are perishable, the living entity is eternal. Actually it is the body that is born or lost, not the living entity. One should not accept that the living entity takes birth or dies. The living being actually has no relationship with so-called fathers and mothers. As long as he appears as the son of a certain father and mother as a result of his past fruitive activities, he has a connection with the body given by that father and mother. Thus he falsely accepts himself as their son and acts affectionately. After he dies, however, the relationship is finished. Under these circumstances, one should not be falsely involved with jubilation and lamentation.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Body Dies, Not the Living Entity

  1. 1

    It is the body that is born or lost, not the living entity. The living entity is eternal.

  2. 2

    While living in a material body, the living entity falsely thinks he is that body. Bodily relationships with father and mother arise from past fruitive activities.

  3. 3

    These illusions continue until one understands the living entity’s actual situation. One should therefore not be falsely absorbed in jubilation and lamentation over bodily relationships.

Key points from the purport
  • When the living entity lives within the material body, he falsely thinks that he is the body, although actually he is not.
  • His relationship with his body and his so-called father and mother are false, illusory conceptions.
  • These illusions continue as long as one is not enlightened about the situation of the living entity.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. evamthus
  2. yoni-gataḥbeing within a specific species of life
  3. jīvaḥthe living entity
  4. saḥhe
  5. nityaḥeternal
  6. nirahaṅkṛtaḥwithout identification with the body
  7. yāvatas long as
  8. yatrawhere
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

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 6.16

    In this verse: “mothers”, “fathers”, “mother”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “illusions”, “material”

  • Viraha · Longing in separation

    Love and remembrance experienced in apparent absence. · Theme in SB 6.16

    In this verse: “lamentation”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Where do I most strongly confuse my bodily identity with my actual self?

Practice

Write down this reminder and reflect on it today: “The body changes and dies; the living entity is eternal.”

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Body Dies, Not the Living EntityThis 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.

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