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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
6.18.736.18.75

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.18.74

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Indrasince 6.18.71inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

आराधनं भगवत ईहमाना निराशिष: ।

ये तु नेच्छन्त्यपि परं ते स्वार्थकुशला: स्मृता: ॥ ७४ ॥

ārādhanaṁ bhagavata

īhamānā nirāśiṣaḥ

ye tu necchanty api paraṁ

te svārtha-kuśalāḥ smṛtāḥ

Translation

Although those who are interested only in worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead do not desire anything material from the Lord and do not even want liberation, Lord Kṛṣṇa fulfills all their desires.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Seek Devotion Rather Than Rewards

  1. 1

    Those interested only in worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead desire neither material rewards nor even liberation. Nevertheless, Lord Kṛṣṇa fulfills their desires.

  2. 2

    Dhruva Mahārāja was fully satisfied upon seeing Lord Viṣṇu and declined benedictions. Still, the Lord kindly fulfilled his earlier desire by granting him Dhruvaloka.

  3. 3

    Whether one has material desires, no material desires, or a desire for liberation, one should engage in full devotional service. Unlike a karmī’s opulence, the opulence awarded to a devotee is never destroyed.

Key points from the purport
  • The actual devotee does not desire even liberation (anyābhilāṣitā-śūnyam).
  • The Lord, however, fulfills the desire of the devotee by awarding him opulence that will never be destroyed.
  • A devotee becomes more and more opulent as he increases his devotional service to the Lord.

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· 1

The purport of SB 6.18.74 quotesSB 2.3.10

“A person who has broader intelligence, whether he is full of material desires, free from material desires, or desiring liberation, must by all means worship the supreme whole, the Personality of Godhead.”

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:

Just to help Indra, Lord Viṣṇu had killed Hiraṇyākṣa and Hiraṇyakaśipu. Because of this, Diti was very envious, and she was eager to have a son who could kill Indra.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.18
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. ārādhanamthe worship
  2. bhagavataḥof the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  3. īhamānāḥbeing interested in
  4. nirāśiṣaḥwithout material desires
  5. yethose who
  6. tuindeed
  7. na icchantido not desire
  8. apieven
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “worshiping”, “devotional service”, “devotee”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 6.18

    In this verse: “kindly”

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

Am I seeking satisfaction in worship itself, or mainly in what I hope to receive?

Practice

Offer a short prayer today asking to serve Lord Kṛṣṇa, without adding a request for material gain.

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 2.3.10

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

Live this todaySeek Devotion Rather Than RewardsThis 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 6.18.74? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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