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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
6.18.746.18.76

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.18.75

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Indrasince 6.18.71inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

आराध्यात्मप्रदं देवं स्वात्मानं जगदीश्वरम् ।

को वृणीत गुणस्पर्शं बुध: स्यान्नरकेऽपि यत् ॥ ७५ ॥

ārādhyātma-pradaṁ devaṁ

svātmānaṁ jagad-īśvaram

ko vṛṇīta guṇa-sparśaṁ

budhaḥ syān narake ’pi yat

Translation

The ultimate goal of all ambitions is to become a servant of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. If an intelligent man serves the most dear Lord, who gives Himself to His devotees, how can he desire material happiness, which is available even in hell?

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Service Is the Ultimate Goal

  1. 1

    The ultimate goal of all ambitions is to become a servant of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The most dear Lord gives Himself to His devotees.

  2. 2

    An intelligent person does not become a devotee to gain material happiness, which is available even in hell. A pure devotee does not beg for riches, followers, a good wife, or even liberation.

  3. 3

    Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu teaches us to desire causeless devotional service birth after birth. The Lord promises to bring everything necessary for His service.

Key points from the purport
  • An intelligent man will never aspire to become a devotee to achieve material happiness.
  • A pure devotee never begs the Lord for material happiness in the shape of riches, followers, a good wife or even mukti.
  • The Lord promises, however, yoga-kṣemaṁ vahāmy aham: “I voluntarily bring everything necessary for My service.”

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:

When, however, she requested a son who would kill Indra, he condemned himself, and he advised his wife Diti to follow the Vaiṣṇava ritualistic ceremonies to purify herself. When Diti, following the instructions of Kaśyapa, engaged in devotional service, Indra could understand her purpose, and he began observing all her activities.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.18
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. ārādhyaafter worshiping
  2. ātma-pradamwho gives Himself
  3. devamthe Lord
  4. sva-ātmānamthe most dear
  5. jagat-īśvaramthe Lord of the universe
  6. kaḥwhat
  7. vṛṇītawould choose
  8. guṇa-sparśammaterial happiness
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Āśraya · The summum bonum

    Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotees”, “devotional service”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 6.18

    In this verse: “causeless”

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 would my priorities change if service, rather than material happiness, were my goal?

Practice

Pray today for devotional service without material reward, and choose one small act of service to perform.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayService Is the Ultimate GoalThis 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 6.18.75? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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