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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 6.2.47-48

Who is speaking and story frame

य एतं परमं गुह्यमितिहासमघापहम् ।

श‍ृणुयाच्छ्रद्धया युक्तो यश्च भक्त्यानुकीर्तयेत् ॥ ४७ ॥

न वै स नरकं याति नेक्षितो यमकिङ्करै: ।

यद्यप्यमङ्गलो मर्त्यो विष्णुलोके महीयते ॥ ४८ ॥

ya etaṁ paramaṁ guhyam

itihāsam aghāpaham

śṛṇuyāc chraddhayā yukto

yaś ca bhaktyānukīrtayet

na vai sa narakaṁ yāti

nekṣito yama-kiṅkaraiḥ

yady apy amaṅgalo martyo

viṣṇu-loke mahīyate

Translation

Because this very confidential historical narration has the potency to vanquish all sinful reactions, one who hears or describes it with faith and devotion is no longer doomed to hellish life, regardless of his having a material body and regardless of how sinful he may have been. Indeed, the Yamadūtas, who carry out the orders of Yamarāja, do not approach him even to see him. After giving up his body, he returns home, back to Godhead, where he is very respectfully received and worshiped.

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.

Hear With Faith and Devotion

  1. 1

    This confidential historical narration has the potency to vanquish all sinful reactions. It should be heard or described with faith and devotion.

  2. 2

    Such a hearer or speaker is no longer doomed to hellish life, however sinful the past may have been. The Yamadūtas do not approach that person even to see them.

  3. 3

    After giving up the material body, that person returns home, back to Godhead. There, that person is respectfully received and worshiped.

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:

Therefore one who chants the holy name of the Lord with faith and devotion is certainly exalted. He is protected even in his material, conditional life.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.2
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yaḥanyone who
  2. etamthis
  3. paramamvery
  4. guhyamconfidential
  5. itihāsamhistorical narration
  6. agha-apahamwhich frees one from all reactions to sins
  7. śṛṇuyāthears
  8. śraddhayāwith faith
3

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: “devotion”, “worshiped”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

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

    In this verse: “narration”, “heard”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

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

    In this verse: “sinful”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I hearing this narration with faith and devotion, rather than merely gathering information?

Practice

Read this translation aloud once today, giving your full attention to hearing it with faith and devotion.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

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.

Live this todayHear With Faith and DevotionThis 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 6.2.47-48? Get an answer from the verses themselves.