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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 6.19.2-3

Who is speaking and story frame

श्रीशुक उवाच

शुक्ले मार्गशिरे पक्षे योषिद्भ‍‌र्तुरनुज्ञया ।

आरभेत व्रतमिदं सार्वकामिकमादित: ॥ २ ॥

निशम्य मरुतां जन्म ब्राह्मणाननुमन्‍त्र्‍य च ।

स्‍नात्वा शुक्लदती शुक्ले वसीतालङ्‌कृताम्बरे ।

पूजयेत्प्रातराशात्प्राग्भगवन्तं श्रिया सह ॥ ३ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca

śukle mārgaśire pakṣe

yoṣid bhartur anujñayā

ārabheta vratam idaṁ

sārva-kāmikam āditaḥ

niśamya marutāṁ janma

brāhmaṇān anumantrya ca

snātvā śukla-datī śukle

vasītālaṅkṛtāmbare

pūjayet prātarāśāt prāg

bhagavantaṁ śriyā saha

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: On the first day of the bright fortnight of the month of Agrahāyaṇa [November-December], following the instructions of her husband, a woman should begin this regulative devotional service with a vow of penance, for it can fulfill all one’s desires. Before beginning the worship of Lord Viṣṇu, the woman should hear the story of how the Maruts were born. Under the instructions of qualified brāhmaṇas, in the morning she should wash her teeth, bathe, and dress herself with white cloth and ornaments, and before taking breakfast she should worship Lord Viṣṇu and Lakṣmī.

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.

Begin Devotional Worship with Care

  1. 1

    The woman should begin this regulative devotional service on the first day of the bright fortnight of Agrahāyaṇa, following her husband's instructions. This vow of penance can fulfill all desires.

  2. 2

    Before beginning worship, she should hear how the Maruts were born and receive instructions from qualified brāhmaṇas.

  3. 3

    In the morning she should clean her teeth, bathe, and dress in white cloth and ornaments. Before breakfast, she should worship Lord Viṣṇu and Lakṣmī.

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:

During the first day of the bright fortnight of the moon in the month of Agrahāyaṇa (November-December), every woman, following in the footsteps of Diti and following the instructions of her own husband, should begin this puṁsavana-vrata. In the morning, after washing her teeth, bathing and thus becoming purified, she should hear about the birth mystery of the Maruts.
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-śukaḥ uvācaŚrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said
  2. śuklebright
  3. mārgaśireduring the month of November-December
  4. pakṣeduring the fortnight
  5. yoṣita woman
  6. bhartuḥof the husband
  7. anujñayāwith the permission
  8. ārabhetashould begin
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 6.19

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

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 attention do I give to preparation before worship?

Practice

Before your worship today, take a moment to attend to personal cleanliness.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayBegin Devotional Worship with CareThis 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 6.19.2-3? Get an answer from the verses themselves.