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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 6.17.14

Who is speaking and story frame

नायमर्हति वैकुण्ठपादमूलोपसर्पणम् ।

सम्भावितमति: स्तब्ध: साधुभि: पर्युपासितम् ॥ १४ ॥

nāyam arhati vaikuṇṭha-

pāda-mūlopasarpaṇam

sambhāvita-matiḥ stabdhaḥ

sādhubhiḥ paryupāsitam

Translation

This person is puffed up because of his achievements, thinking, “I am the best.” He does not deserve to approach the shelter of Lord Viṣṇu’s lotus feet, which are worshiped by all saintly persons, for he is impudent, thinking himself greatly important.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Humility Opens the Way to Shelter

  1. 1

    A devotee who thinks himself very advanced in devotional service is considered puffed up. Such pride makes one unfit to take shelter at the Lord’s lotus feet.

  2. 2

    Lord Caitanya teaches that one should chant the holy name humbly, thinking oneself lower than straw and being more tolerant than a tree.

  3. 3

    One should give up false prestige and offer all respect to others. In this humble state, one can chant the Lord’s holy name constantly.

Key points from the purport
  • If a devotee thinks that he is very much advanced in devotional service, he is considered puffed up and unfit to sit beneath the shelter of the Lord’s lotus feet.
  • Again, this instruction by Lord Caitanya is applicable:
  • Unless one is humble and meek, one cannot qualify to sit at the lotus feet of the Lord.

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 17: Mother Pārvatī Curses Citraketu

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

One is controlled by the influence of material nature in the material world, yet one thinks himself the doer of everything. In this material world, which is made of the external energy of the Supreme Lord, one is sometimes cursed and sometimes favored, and thus he sometimes enjoys in the upper planetary systems and sometimes suffers in the lower planets, but all these situations are the same because they are within this material world.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.17
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. nanot
  2. ayamthis person
  3. arhatideserves
  4. vaikuṇṭha-pāda-mūla-upasarpaṇamthe approaching of the shelter of Lord Viṣṇu’s lotus feet
  5. sambhāvita-matiḥconsidering himself highly esteemed
  6. stabdhaḥimpudent
  7. sādhubhiḥby great saintly persons
  8. paryupāsitamworshiped
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 6.17

    In this verse: “worshiped”, “devotional service”, “devotee”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 6.17

    In this verse: “chant”, “holy name”

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 6.17

    In this verse: “humble”, “pride”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Where might pride in my spiritual progress be weakening my humility?

Practice

Chant the Lord’s holy name today with a deliberate wish to give respect rather than receive it.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHumility Opens the Way to ShelterThis 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 6.17.14? Get an answer from the verses themselves.