1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 6 · Prescribed Duties for Mankind · 19 chapters

12345678910111213141516171819

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
6.17.316.17.33

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.17.32

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

नाहं विरिञ्चो न कुमारनारदौ

न ब्रह्मपुत्रा मुनय: सुरेशा: ।

विदाम यस्येहितमंशकांशका

न तत्स्वरूपं पृथगीशमानिन: ॥ ३२ ॥

nāhaṁ viriñco na kumāra-nāradau

na brahma-putrā munayaḥ sureśāḥ

vidāma yasyehitam aṁśakāṁśakā

na tat-svarūpaṁ pṛthag-īśa-māninaḥ

Translation

Neither I [Lord Śiva], nor Brahmā, nor the Aśvinī-kumāras, nor Nārada or the other great sages who are Brahmā’s sons, nor even the demigods can understand the pastimes and personality of the Supreme Lord. Although we are part of the Supreme Lord, we consider ourselves independent, separate controllers, and thus we cannot understand His identity.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Is Known Through Pure Devotion

  1. 1

    Lord Śiva includes himself among those unable to understand the Supreme Lord’s personality and pastimes. Considering oneself an independent controller obstructs understanding of the Lord.

  2. 2

    Govinda is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, absolute, infallible and beginningless. Although He expands into unlimited forms, He remains the same original person.

  3. 3

    Even the best Vedic scholars cannot understand the Lord’s eternal, blissful, all-knowing forms, yet those forms are manifest to pure devotees. Lord Śiva is above ordinary living entities, but is not in the category of Lord Viṣṇu.

Key points from the purport
  • Lord Śiva places himself as one of the nondevotees, who cannot understand the identity of the Supreme Lord.
  • Lord Śiva, of course, is above the ordinary human beings, yet he is unable to understand the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • Lord Śiva is not among the ordinary living entities, nor is he in the category of Lord Viṣṇu.

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:

The so-called demigods consider themselves independent lords, and in this way they are misled from understanding that all living entities are part of the Supreme. This chapter concludes by glorifying the devotee and the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.17
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. nanot
  2. ahamI (Lord Śiva)
  3. viriñcaḥLord Brahmā
  4. nanor
  5. kumārathe Aśvinī-kumāras
  6. nāradauthe great saint Nārada
  7. nanor
  8. brahma-putrāḥthe sons of Lord Brahmā
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Āśraya · The summum bonum

    Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 6.17

    In this verse: “understand”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotees”

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 might thinking of myself as an independent controller limit my understanding of the Lord?

Practice

Offer a brief prayer to Govinda today, acknowledging your limited understanding and asking to serve Him with pure devotion.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Is Known Through Pure DevotionThis 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 6.17.32? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories