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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 17: Mother Pārvatī Curses Citraketu
6.17.276.17.29

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.17.28

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Śivasince 6.17.27inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

नारायणपरा: सर्वे न कुतश्चन बिभ्यति ।

स्वर्गापवर्गनरकेष्वपि तुल्यार्थदर्शिन: ॥ २८ ॥

nārāyaṇa-parāḥ sarve

na kutaścana bibhyati

svargāpavarga-narakeṣv

api tulyārtha-darśinaḥ

Translation

Devotees solely engaged in the devotional service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Nārāyaṇa, never fear any condition of life. For them the heavenly planets, liberation and the hellish planets are all the same, for such devotees are interested only in the service of the Lord.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Service Matters More Than Circumstances

  1. 1

    Pure devotees depend simply on Nārāyaṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Through His service, they learn to tolerate hardships without fear.

  2. 2

    Heaven, liberation and hell have equal value for them because their interest is only in serving the Lord.

  3. 3

    They do not seek heavenly happiness or becoming one with Brahman. Their goal is direct devotional service to the Lord.

Key points from the purport
  • Therefore this verse explains that they are nārāyaṇa-para, simply dependent on Nārāyaṇa.
  • Ānukūlyena kṛṣṇānuśīlanam: they are liberally engaged in the service of the Lord, and therefore they are excellent.
  • They are simply interested in giving direct service to 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.

Connected verses· 5

Quoted in the purport ofSB 3.15.7

It is stated, nārāyaṇa-parāḥ sarve: one who is nārāyaṇa-para, or a devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, is not afraid anywhere, whether he is sent to hell or promoted to heaven.

Quoted in the purport ofSB 3.15.49

It is said of the nārāyaṇa-para, or those who are devotees of Nārāyaṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, na kutaścana bibhyati.

Quoted in the purport ofSB 4.30.37

For him heaven and hell are one and the same.”

Quoted in the purport ofSB 4.31.19

api tulyārtha-darśinaḥ. It does not matter to the pure devotee if he has to go to hell to preach.

Quoted in the purport ofSB 5.1.23

As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (6.17.28): A devotee who is actually advanced is not afraid of anything, provided he has the opportunity to execute the order of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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:

A devotee is neutral in all conditions of life, whether in the heavenly planets or hellish planets, whether liberated from the material world or conditioned by it, and whether blessed with happiness or subjected to distress. These are all merely dualities created by the external energy.
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. nārāyaṇa-parāḥpure devotees, who are interested only in the service of Nārāyaṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  2. sarveall
  3. nanot
  4. kutaścanaanywhere
  5. bibhyatiare afraid
  6. svargain the higher planetary systems
  7. apavargain liberation
  8. narakeṣuand in hell
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotees”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 6.17

    In this verse: “fear”

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

Am I seeking better circumstances, or the opportunity to serve the Lord wherever I am?

Practice

Set aside a few minutes for service to the Lord today, without waiting for your circumstances to improve.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

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Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

His recorded lectures on this verse, and the talks where he quotes it.

Quoted in 32 lectures. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Quoted in 32 lectures

In each of these he quotes this verse while speaking on another verse or subject. "Find the quote" opens the transcript at that spot.

Live this todayService Matters More Than CircumstancesOne of the 108 chosen lessons: a practice and a question from this verse

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 6.17.28? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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