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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 2: Ajāmila Delivered by the Viṣṇudūtas
6.2.196.2.21

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.2.20

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 6.2.20inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीशुक उवाच

त एवं सुविनिर्णीय धर्मं भागवतं नृप ।

तं याम्यपाशान्निर्मुच्य विप्रं मृत्योरमूमुचन् ॥ २० ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca

ta evaṁ suvinirṇīya

dharmaṁ bhāgavataṁ nṛpa

taṁ yāmya-pāśān nirmucya

vipraṁ mṛtyor amūmucan

Translation

Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: My dear King, having thus perfectly judged the principles of devotional service with reasoning and arguments, the order carriers of Lord Viṣṇu released the brāhmaṇa Ajāmila from the bondage of the Yamadūtas and saved him from imminent death.

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.

Devotional Principles Established, Ajāmila Rescued

  1. 1

    Lord Viṣṇu’s order carriers carefully established the principles of devotional service through reasoning and arguments.

  2. 2

    They released the brāhmaṇa Ajāmila from the bondage of the Yamadūtas.

  3. 3

    Through their intervention, Ajāmila was saved from imminent death.

How it feels

Guilt and mortal terror → Mercy and renewed devotion. The holy name opens a path beyond an apparently hopeless death.

Chapters 1–3 of Canto 6: Ajāmila and the Viṣṇudūtas. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 2: Ajāmila Delivered by the Viṣṇudūtas

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

As they were saying this, the Viṣṇudūtas released Ajāmila from the ropes of the Yamadūtas and left for their own abode. The brāhmaṇa Ajāmila, however, offered his respectful obeisances to the Viṣṇudūtas.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.2
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-śukaḥ uvācaŚrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said
  2. tethey (the order carriers of Lord Viṣṇu)
  3. evamthus
  4. su-vinirṇīyaperfectly ascertaining
  5. dharmamreal religion
  6. bhāgavatamin terms of devotional service
  7. nṛpaO King
  8. tamhim (Ajāmila)
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

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 6.2

    In this verse: “death”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 6.2

    In this verse: “devotional service”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 6.2

    In this verse: “principles”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can careful reflection help me better understand the principles of devotional service?

Practice

Reread this translation and write down what the order carriers of Lord Viṣṇu established before rescuing Ajāmila.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotional Principles Established, Ajāmila RescuedThis 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.

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