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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.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 6 · Chapter 19: Performing the Puṁsavana Ritualistic Ceremony
6.19.126.19.14

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.19.13

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 6.19.8inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

गुणव्यक्तिरियं देवी व्यञ्जको गुणभुग्भवान् ।

त्वं हि सर्वशरीर्यात्मा श्री: शरीरेन्द्रियाशया: ।

नामरूपे भगवती प्रत्ययस्त्वमपाश्रय: ॥ १३ ॥

guṇa-vyaktir iyaṁ devī

vyañjako guṇa-bhug bhavān

tvaṁ hi sarva-śarīry ātmā

śrīḥ śarīrendriyāśayāḥ

nāma-rūpe bhagavatī

pratyayas tvam apāśrayaḥ

Translation

Mother Lakṣmī, who is here, is the reservoir of all spiritual qualities, whereas You manifest and enjoy all these qualities. Indeed, You are actually the enjoyer of everything. You live as the Supersoul of all living entities, and the goddess of fortune is the form of their bodies, senses and minds. She also has a holy name and form, whereas You are the support of all such names and forms and the cause for their manifestation.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord and His Spiritual Potency

  1. 1

    Mother Lakṣmī is the reservoir of spiritual qualities, and the Lord manifests and enjoys them. He supports all names and forms.

  2. 2

    Lord Viṣṇu is the Supersoul of everyone, even Lakṣmīdevī. No one is the Supersoul of Lord Viṣṇu.

  3. 3

    The Gauḍīya Vaiṣṇava conclusion identifies mother Lakṣmī as the Lord’s all-pervading spiritual potency and eternal consort. She is included in viṣṇu-tattva, not regarded as an ordinary living entity.

Key points from the purport
  • Madhvācārya, the ācārya of the Tattvavādīs, has described this verse in the following way: “Viṣṇu is described as yajña personified, and mother Lakṣmī is described as spiritual activities and the original form of worship.
  • Lord Viṣṇu is the Supersoul even of Lakṣmīdevī, but no one can be the Supersoul of Lord Viṣṇu, for Lord Viṣṇu Himself is the spiritual Supersoul of everyone.”
  • As Lord Viṣṇu is all-pervading, His spiritual potency, mother Lakṣmī, is also all-pervading.

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 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. guṇa-vyaktiḥthe reservoir of qualities
  2. iyamthis
  3. devīgoddess
  4. vyañjakaḥmanifester
  5. guṇa-bhukthe enjoyer of the qualities
  6. bhavānYou
  7. tvamYou
  8. hiindeed
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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

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

    In this verse: “holy name”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 6.19

    In this verse: “mother”

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

What does it mean for me to depend on the Lord, who supports everyone?

Practice

Take a moment to remember Lord Viṣṇu as the Supersoul and mother Lakṣmī as His eternal spiritual potency.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord and His Spiritual PotencyThis 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 6.19.13? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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