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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 18: Diti Vows to Kill King Indra
6.18.396.18.41

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.18.40

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

कोऽतिक्रमोऽनुवर्तन्त्या: स्वभावमिह योषित: ।

धिङ्‌मां बताबुधं स्वार्थे यदहं त्वजितेन्द्रिय: ॥ ४० ॥

ko ’tikramo ’nuvartantyāḥ

svabhāvam iha yoṣitaḥ

dhiṅ māṁ batābudhaṁ svārthe

yad ahaṁ tv ajitendriyaḥ

Translation

This woman, my wife, has adopted a means that follows her nature, and therefore she is not to be blamed. But I am a man. Therefore, all condemnation upon me! I am not at all conversant with what is good for me, since I could not control my senses.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Make Household Life Spiritually Conscious

  1. 1

    Kaśyapa Muni condemns his own failure to control his senses rather than blaming his wife.

  2. 2

    The purport connects indulgence of the tongue, belly and genitals with increasing material desire. A relationship based strictly on sense gratification is not spiritually beneficial.

  3. 3

    Training in bhāgavata-dharma, devotional service, should begin early. Household life becomes desirable when husband and wife both take to Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Key points from the purport
  • Then when he marries, if his wife is faithful to her husband and follows him in such life, the relationship between husband and wife is very desirable.
  • However, a relationship between husband and wife without spiritual consciousness but strictly for sense gratification is not at all good.
  • Therefore householder life in this Kali-yuga is extremely dangerous unless both the wife and husband take to Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

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· 2

The purport of SB 6.18.40 quotesSB 7.6.1

Kaumāra ācaret prājño dharmān bhāgavatān iha. During the time of brahmacarya, or student life, a brahmacārī should be taught to be expert in bhāgavata-dharma, devotional service.

The purport of SB 6.18.40 quotesSB 12.2.3

It is said in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (12.2.3) that especially in this age, Kali-yuga, dām-patye ’bhirucir hetuḥ: the relationship between husband and wife will be based on sexual power.

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

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:

The demons born of Diti are also described in this chapter. In the dynasty of Diti appeared the great saintly devotee Prahlāda and also Bali, Prahlāda’s grandson.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.18
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. kaḥwhat
  2. atikramaḥoffense
  3. anuvartantyāḥfollowing
  4. sva-bhāvamher nature
  5. ihahere
  6. yoṣitaḥof the woman
  7. dhikcondemnation
  8. māmunto me
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: “sense gratification”, “household”, “material”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 6.18

    In this verse: “devotional service”

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 can my daily habits support devotional service rather than sense gratification?

Practice

Set aside five minutes today for devotional service instead of an activity done only for sense enjoyment.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

The purport quotesSB 7.6.1SB 12.2.3

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 6.18's connections

Live this todayMake Household Life Spiritually ConsciousThis 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 6.18.40? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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