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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 18: Diti Vows to Kill King Indra
6.18.386.18.40

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.18.39

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Ditisince 6.18.37inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

अहो अर्थेन्द्रियारामो योषिन्मय्येह मायया ।

गृहीतचेता: कृपण: पतिष्ये नरके ध्रुवम् ॥ ३९ ॥

aho arthendriyārāmo

yoṣin-mayyeha māyayā

gṛhīta-cetāḥ kṛpaṇaḥ

patiṣye narake dhruvam

Translation

Kaśyapa Muni thought: Alas, I have now become too attached to material enjoyment. Taking advantage of this, my mind has been attracted by the illusory energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead in the form of a woman [my wife]. Therefore I am surely a wretched person who will glide down toward hell.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Recognize the Danger of Material Attachment

  1. 1

    Kaśyapa Muni recognizes that he has become too attached to material enjoyment.

  2. 2

    He sees that his mind has been captivated through his wife by the illusory energy of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  3. 3

    He deeply regrets his condition and fears that this attachment will lead him down toward hell.

How it feels

Resentment and resolve → Constraint and consequence. Family conflict frames a test of intention.

Chapters 18–19 of Canto 6: Diti's vow and discipline. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 18: Diti Vows to Kill King Indra

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

A description of Āditya Urukrama, who is an incarnation of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, will be offered in the Eighth Canto. The demons born of Diti are also described in this chapter.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.18
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. ahoalas
  2. artha-indriya-ārāmaḥtoo attached to material enjoyment
  3. yoṣit-mayyāin the form of a woman
  4. ihahere
  5. māyayāby the illusory energy
  6. gṛhīta-cetāḥmy mind being captivated
  7. kṛpaṇaḥwretched
  8. patiṣyeI shall fall
  9. naraketo hell
  10. dhruvamsurely
3

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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 6.18

    In this verse: “attached”, “material”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 6.18

    In this verse: “fears”

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

Which attachment most easily captures my mind and weakens my judgment?

Practice

Name one material enjoyment that strongly occupies your mind, and pause before pursuing it today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayRecognize the Danger of Material AttachmentThis 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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