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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 19: Performing the Puṁsavana Ritualistic Ceremony
6.18.786.19.2-3

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.19.1

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:King Parīkṣitsince 6.19.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीराजोवाच

व्रतं पुंसवनं ब्रह्मन् भवता यदुदीरितम् ।

तस्य वेदितुमिच्छामि येन विष्णु: प्रसीदति ॥ १ ॥

śrī-rājovāca

vrataṁ puṁsavanaṁ brahman

bhavatā yad udīritam

tasya veditum icchāmi

yena viṣṇuḥ prasīdati

Translation

Mahārāja Parīkṣit said: My dear lord, you have already spoken about the puṁsavana vow. Now I want to hear about it in detail, for I understand that by observing this vow one can please the Supreme Lord, Viṣṇu.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Hear How to Please Lord Viṣṇu

  1. 1

    Mahārāja Parīkṣit asks to hear about the puṁsavana vow in detail.

  2. 2

    He has already heard the vow mentioned and wants to understand it more fully.

  3. 3

    His interest rests on understanding that observing this vow can please the Supreme Lord, Viṣṇu.

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 19: Performing the Puṁsavana Ritualistic Ceremony

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Then, covering her body with a white dress and being properly ornamented, before breakfast she should worship Lord Viṣṇu and mother Lakṣmī, the goddess of fortune, Lord Viṣṇu’s wife, by glorifying Lord Viṣṇu for His mercy, patience, prowess, ability, greatness and other glories and for how He can bestow all mystic benedictions.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.19
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-rājā uvācaMahārāja Parīkṣit said
  2. vratamthe vow
  3. puṁsavanamcalled puṁsavana
  4. brahmanO brāhmaṇa
  5. bhavatāby you
  6. yatwhich
  7. udīritamwas spoken of
  8. tasyaof that
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 6.19

    In this verse: “understand”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 6.19

    In this verse: “heard”

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 pleasing the Supreme Lord guide my desire to learn?

Practice

Reread the translation slowly, focusing on the purpose of pleasing Lord Viṣṇu.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHear How to Please Lord ViṣṇuThis 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 6.19.1? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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