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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 6.2.43

Who is speaking and story frame

हित्वा कलेवरं तीर्थे गङ्गायां दर्शनादनु ।

सद्य: स्वरूपं जगृहे भगवत्पार्श्ववर्तिनाम् ॥ ४३ ॥

hitvā kalevaraṁ tīrthe

gaṅgāyāṁ darśanād anu

sadyaḥ svarūpaṁ jagṛhe

bhagavat-pārśva-vartinām

Translation

Upon seeing the Viṣṇudūtas, Ajāmila gave up his material body at Hardwar on the bank of the Ganges. He regained his original spiritual body, which was a body appropriate for an associate 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.

Attain the Lord’s Association

  1. 1

    After seeing the Viṣṇudūtas, Ajāmila gave up his material body on the bank of the Ganges at Hardwar. He regained his original spiritual body, fit for an associate of the Lord.

  2. 2

    One who truly knows the transcendental nature of the Lord’s appearance and activities does not take birth again in the material world. Such a person attains the Lord’s eternal abode.

  3. 3

    Perfection in Kṛṣṇa consciousness brings one to the spiritual world as an associate of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Some devotees go to Vaikuṇṭhaloka, and others become Kṛṣṇa’s associates in Goloka Vṛndāvana.

Key points from the purport
  • The result of perfection in Kṛṣṇa consciousness is that after giving up one’s material body, one is immediately transferred to the spiritual world in one’s original spiritual body to become an associate of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • Some devotees go to Vaikuṇṭhaloka, and others go to Goloka Vṛndāvana to become associates of Kṛṣṇa.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 6.2.43 quotesBG 4.9

The Lord says in Bhagavad-gītā (4.9): “One who knows the transcendental nature of My appearance and activities does not, upon leaving the body, take his birth again in this material world, but attains My eternal abode, O Arjuna.”

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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. hitvāgiving up
  2. kalevaramthe material body
  3. tīrthein the holy place
  4. gaṅgāyāmon the bank of the Ganges
  5. darśanāt anuafter seeing
  6. sadyaḥimmediately
  7. sva-rūpamhis original spiritual form
  8. jagṛhehe assumed
  9. bhagavat-pārśva-vartināmwhich is fit for an associate of the Lord
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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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 6.2

    In this verse: “material”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 6.2

    In this verse: “gave up”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotees”

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does the goal of becoming the Lord’s associate shape your view of spiritual practice?

Practice

Before your devotional practice today, pause to remember that its goal is association with and service to the Lord.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayAttain the Lord’s AssociationThis 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 6.2.43? Get an answer from the verses themselves.