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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 · Text 6.2.40

Who is speaking and story frame

स तस्मिन् देवसदन आसीनो योगमास्थित: ।

प्रत्याहृतेन्द्रियग्रामो युयोज मन आत्मनि ॥ ४० ॥

sa tasmin deva-sadana

āsīno yogam āsthitaḥ

pratyāhṛtendriya-grāmo

yuyoja mana ātmani

Translation

In Hardwar, Ajāmila took shelter at a Viṣṇu temple, where he executed the process of bhakti-yoga. He controlled his senses and fully applied his mind in the service of the Lord.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Engage Mind and Senses in Service

  1. 1

    Ajāmila took shelter at a Viṣṇu temple in Hardwar and practiced bhakti-yoga. He controlled his senses and fully applied his mind in the Lord’s service.

  2. 2

    Devotees can live in temples and engage in devotional service. Through this service, they can control the mind and senses and achieve life’s highest success.

  3. 3

    This process has descended from time immemorial. Learning from Ajāmila, we should firmly resolve to do what is necessary to follow it.

Key points from the purport
  • The devotees who have joined the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement may live comfortably in our many temples and engage in the devotional service of the Lord.
  • Thus they can control the mind and senses and achieve the highest success in life.
  • Learning from the life of Ajāmila, we should vow with determination to do what is necessary to follow this path.

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

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:

Finally, because of his association with the Viṣṇudūtas, Ajāmila, his original consciousness aroused, gave up everything and went to Hardwar, where he engaged in devotional service without deviation, always thinking of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Thus the Viṣṇudūtas went there, seated him on a golden throne and took him away to Vaikuṇṭhaloka.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.2
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. saḥhe (Ajāmila)
  2. tasminat that place (Hardwar)
  3. deva-sadanein one Viṣṇu temple
  4. āsīnaḥbeing situated
  5. yogam āsthitaḥperformed bhakti-yoga
  6. pratyāhṛtawithdrawn from all activities of sense gratification
  7. indriya-grāmaḥhis senses
  8. yuyojahe fixed
  9. manaḥthe mind
  10. ātmanion the self or the Supersoul, the Supreme Personality of Godhead
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “bhakti-yoga”, “devotional service”, “devotees”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 6.2

    In this verse: “shelter”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What small commitment would help you apply your mind more fully to the Lord’s service?

Practice

Set aside a few minutes for one act of devotional service, giving it your full attention.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayEngage Mind and Senses in ServiceThis 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 6.2.40? Get an answer from the verses themselves.