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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 6.2.46

Who is speaking and story frame

नात: परं कर्मनिबन्धकृन्तनं

मुमुक्षतां तीर्थपदानुकीर्तनात् ।

न यत्पुन: कर्मसु सज्जते मनो

रजस्तमोभ्यां कलिलं ततोऽन्यथा ॥ ४६ ॥

nātaḥ paraṁ karma-nibandha-kṛntanaṁ

mumukṣatāṁ tīrtha-pādānukīrtanāt

na yat punaḥ karmasu sajjate mano

rajas-tamobhyāṁ kalilaṁ tato ’nyathā

Translation

Therefore one who desires freedom from material bondage should adopt the process of chanting and glorifying the name, fame, form and pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, at whose feet all the holy places stand. One cannot derive the proper benefit from other methods, such as pious atonement, speculative knowledge and meditation in mystic yoga, because even after following such methods one takes to fruitive activities again, unable to control his mind, which is contaminated by the base qualities of nature, namely passion and ignorance.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotional Service Cuts Material Bondage

  1. 1

    One who desires freedom from material bondage should chant and glorify the name, fame, form and pastimes of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Devotional service begins with hearing and chanting the Lord’s glories.

  2. 2

    Pious atonement, speculative knowledge and mystic yoga do not keep one from returning to material activities. The mind remains contaminated by passion and ignorance.

  3. 3

    Hearing and chanting bring one to goodness and happiness, overcoming lust and greed. As devotional service advances, doubts are removed and the knot of desire for fruitive activities is cut.

Key points from the purport
  • It has actually been seen that even after achieving so-called perfection, many karmīs, jñānīs and yogīs become attached to material activities again.
  • Many so-called svāmīs and yogīs give up material activities as false (jagan mithyā), but after some time they nevertheless resume material activities by opening hospitals and schools or performing other activities for the benefit of the public.
  • The perfect conclusion, however, is that if one actually desires to get out of the material world, he must take to devotional service, which begins with śravaṇaṁ kīrtanaṁ viṣṇoḥ: chanting and hearing the glories of the Lord.

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 6.2.46 quotesSB 1.2.19

As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (1.2.19): As a result of rajaḥ and tamaḥ, one becomes increasingly lusty and greedy, but when one takes to the process of chanting and hearing, one comes to the platform of goodness and becomes happy.

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. nanot
  2. ataḥtherefore
  3. parambetter means
  4. karma-nibandhathe obligation to suffer or undergo tribulations as a result of fruitive activities
  5. kṛntanamthat which can completely cut off
  6. mumukṣatāmof persons desiring to get out of the clutches of material bondage
  7. tīrtha-pādaabout the Supreme Personality of Godhead, at whose feet all the holy places stand
  8. anukīrtanātthan constantly chanting under the direction of the bona fide spiritual master
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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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 6.2

    In this verse: “chanting”, “glorifying”, “chant”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”, “lust”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 6.2

    In this verse: “contaminated”

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I make hearing and chanting the Lord’s glories a more regular part of my devotional service?

Practice

Set aside five minutes today to hear or chant the glories of Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

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Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

His recorded lectures on this verse, and the talks where he quotes it.

1 lecture given on it · quoted in 1 more lecture. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Quoted in 1 other lecture

In each of these he quotes this verse while speaking on another verse or subject. "Find the quote" opens the transcript at that spot.

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Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

The purport quotesSB 1.2.19

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 6.2's connections

Live this todayDevotional Service Cuts Material BondageThis 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 6.2.46? Get an answer from the verses themselves.