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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 ›
Canto 6 · Chapter 17: Mother Pārvatī Curses Citraketu
6.17.296.17.31

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.17.30

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Śivasince 6.17.27inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

अविवेककृत: पुंसो ह्यर्थभेद इवात्मनि ।

गुणदोषविकल्पश्च भिदेव स्रजिवत्कृत: ॥ ३० ॥

aviveka-kṛtaḥ puṁso

hy artha-bheda ivātmani

guṇa-doṣa-vikalpaś ca

bhid eva srajivat kṛtaḥ

Translation

As one mistakenly considers a flower garland to be a snake or experiences happiness and distress in a dream, so, in the material world, by a lack of careful consideration, we differentiate between happiness and distress, considering one good and the other bad.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Find Happiness in the Holy Name

  1. 1

    Material happiness and distress are compared to experiences in a dream. Their distinctions arise from the mind’s acceptance and rejection.

  2. 2

    Without mature understanding, one may mistake a flower garland for a snake. Similarly, mistaken judgment shapes our experience of material duality.

  3. 3

    By Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu’s causeless mercy, a devotee can accept distress as happiness. Following His example, one should chant the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra and find happiness in any condition of life.

Key points from the purport
  • The happiness and distress of the material world of duality are both mistaken ideas.
  • They are like the happiness and distress in dreams.
  • A devotee accepts the distress of this material world as happiness only due to the causeless mercy of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu.

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· 1

The purport of SB 6.17.30 quotesCC Antya 4.176

In the Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Antya 4.176) it is said: “dvaite” bhadrābhadra-jñāna, saba — “manodharma”

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. aviveka-kṛtaḥdone in ignorance, without mature consideration
  2. puṁsaḥof the living entity
  3. hiindeed
  4. artha-bhedaḥdifferentiation of value
  5. ivalike
  6. ātmaniin himself
  7. guṇa-doṣaof quality and fault
  8. vikalpaḥimagination
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 6.17

    In this verse: “material”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 6.17

    In this verse: “distress”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 6.17

    In this verse: “mercy”, “causeless”

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

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How quickly do I label a situation good or bad without careful consideration?

Practice

Chant attentively today: Hare Kṛṣṇa, Hare Kṛṣṇa, Kṛṣṇa Kṛṣṇa, Hare Hare/ Hare Rāma, Hare Rāma, Rāma Rāma, Hare Hare.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayFind Happiness in the Holy NameThis 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 6.17.30? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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