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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.
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Canto 6 · Chapter 18: Diti Vows to Kill King Indra
6.18.516.18.53

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.18.52

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Kaśyapa Munisince 6.18.48inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

धौतवासा शुचिर्नित्यं सर्वमङ्गलसंयुता ।

पूजयेत्प्रातराशात्प्राग्गोविप्राञ् श्रियमच्युतम् ॥ ५२ ॥

dhauta-vāsā śucir nityaṁ

sarva-maṅgala-saṁyutā

pūjayet prātarāśāt prāg

go-viprāñ śriyam acyutam

Translation

Putting on washed clothing, being always pure and being adorned with turmeric, sandalwood pulp and other auspicious items, before breakfast one should worship the cows, the brāhmaṇas, the goddess of fortune and the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Honor Cows and Worship the Supreme Lord

  1. 1

    Before breakfast, one should be clean, wear washed clothing, and worship the cows, brāhmaṇas, goddess of fortune, and Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  2. 2

    The Supreme Lord is very fond of cows and brāhmaṇas. The purport connects spiritual advancement with brahminical qualifications and cow protection.

  3. 3

    Civilized people should protect cows and prepare nourishing milk products rather than eat cow flesh. Following brahminical culture makes one competent in Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

Key points from the purport
  • If one is trained to honor and worship the cows and brāhmaṇas, he is actually civilized.
  • In other words, a civilization in which there is no respect for the cows and brāhmaṇas is condemned.
  • One should not pollute civilization by eating the flesh of cows.

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

Further reading

Chapter 18: Diti Vows to Kill King Indra

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

In association with the demon Vipracit, Siṁhikā bore a son named Rāhu, whose head was severed by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Kṛti, the wife of Saṁhlāda, bore a son named Pañcajana.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.18
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. dhauta-vāsāwearing washed cloth
  2. śuciḥbeing purified
  3. nityamalways
  4. sarva-maṅgalawith all auspicious items
  5. saṁyutāadorned
  6. pūjayetone should worship
  7. prātaḥ-āśāt prākbefore breakfast
  8. go-viprānthe cows and brāhmaṇas
  9. śriyamthe goddess of fortune
  10. acyutamthe Supreme Personality of Godhead
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “worship”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 6.18

    In this verse: “protection”

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 show respect for the Supreme Lord and the cows He loves?

Practice

Set aside a brief time to worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead before your next breakfast.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

His recorded lectures on this verse, and the talks where he quotes it.

Quoted in 1 lecture. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Quoted in 1 lecture

In each of these he quotes this verse while speaking on another verse or subject. "Find the quote" opens the transcript at that spot.

Live this todayHonor Cows and Worship the Supreme LordThis 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 6.18.52? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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