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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

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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

6.18.40 6.18.42

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.18.41

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

शरत्पद्मोत्सवं वक्त्रं वचश्च श्रवणामृतम् ।

हृदयं क्षुरधाराभं स्त्रीणां को वेद चेष्टितम् ॥ ४१ ॥

śarat-padmotsavaṁ vaktraṁ

vacaś ca śravaṇāmṛtam

hṛdayaṁ kṣura-dhārābhaṁ

strīṇāṁ ko veda ceṣṭitam

Translation

A woman’s face is as attractive and beautiful as a blossoming lotus flower during autumn. Her words are very sweet, and they give pleasure to the ear, but if we study a woman’s heart, we can understand it to be extremely sharp, like the blade of a razor. In these circumstances, who could understand the dealings of a woman?

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Be Attracted to Kṛṣṇa, Not Bodily Features

1
The purport presents Kaśyapa Muni’s description from the materialistic point of view. It warns especially that attraction to beauty and a sweet voice can endanger a brahmacārī or sannyāsī.
2
Kṛṣṇa consciousness is meant for everyone, whether man or woman. Anyone who strictly follows the spiritual master and śāstra is fit to return home, back to Godhead.
3
The concluding request is for both men and women to avoid attraction to bodily features and become attracted only to Kṛṣṇa.

Key points from the purport

Therefore a woman’s face is compared to a blooming lotus flower in autumn.
In Sanskrit a woman’s voice is called nārī-svara because women generally sing and their singing is very attractive.
When a woman’s bodily features are attractive, when her face is beautiful and when her voice is sweet, she is naturally a trap for a man.

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

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

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 summary Back to this verse in chapter 6.18

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

śaratin the autumn
padmaa lotus flower
utsavamblossoming
vaktramface
vacaḥwords
caand
śravaṇato the ear
amṛtamgiving pleasure

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
Prema · Transcendental love
The intimacy and sweetness of devotion to Kṛṣṇa. · Theme in SB 6.18
In this verse: “sweet”
Jñāna · Spiritual insight
Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 6.18
In this verse: “understand”
Moha · Material attachment
The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 6.18
In this verse: “materialistic”

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

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What helps me turn my attention from bodily attraction toward Kṛṣṇa?

Practice

When bodily beauty draws your attention today, deliberately turn your thoughts toward Kṛṣṇa.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayBe Attracted to Kṛṣṇa, Not Bodily FeaturesThis 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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