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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 ›
Canto 6 · Chapter 3: Yamarāja Instructs His Messengers
6.2.496.3.2

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.3.1

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:King Parīkṣitsince 6.3.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीराजोवाच

निशम्य देव: स्वभटोपवर्णितं

प्रत्याह किं तानपि धर्मराज: ।

एवं हताज्ञो विहतान्मुरारे-

र्नैदेशिकैर्यस्य वशे जनोऽयम् ॥ १ ॥

śrī-rājovāca

niśamya devaḥ sva-bhaṭopavarṇitaṁ

pratyāha kiṁ tān api dharmarājaḥ

evaṁ hatājño vihatān murārer

naideśikair yasya vaśe jano ’yam

Translation

King Parīkṣit said: O my lord, O Śukadeva Gosvāmī, Yamarāja is the controller of all living entities in terms of their religious and irreligious activities, but his order had been foiled. When his servants, the Yamadūtas, informed him of their defeat by the Viṣṇudūtas, who had stopped them from arresting Ajāmila, what did he reply?

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Viṣṇudūtas’ Statements Were Triumphant

  1. 1

    King Parīkṣit asks Śukadeva Gosvāmī how Yamarāja responded when his servants reported their defeat.

  2. 2

    The Yamadūtas’ statements were fully upheld by Vedic principles, yet the Viṣṇudūtas’ statements were triumphant.

  3. 3

    Yamarāja himself confirmed the victory of the Viṣṇudūtas. His response is therefore important for understanding what happened.

Key points from the purport
  • Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura says that although the statements of the Yamadūtas were fully upheld by Vedic principles, the statements of the Viṣṇudūtas were triumphant.

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 3: Yamarāja Instructs His Messengers

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

As related in this chapter, the Yamadūtas approached Yamarāja, who very exhaustively explained bhāgavata-dharma, the religious principle of devotional service. Yamarāja thus satisfied the Yamadūtas, who had been very disappointed.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.3
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-rājā uvācathe King said
  2. niśamyaafter hearing
  3. devaḥLord Yamarāja
  4. sva-bhaṭaof his own servants
  5. upavarṇitamthe statements
  6. pratyāhareplied
  7. kimwhat
  8. tānunto them
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

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 6.3

    In this verse: “religious”, “principles”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 6.3

    In this verse: “king”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 6.3

    In this verse: “understanding”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I willing to hear a fuller explanation when an outcome challenges my understanding?

Practice

Reread King Parīkṣit’s question and write down one thing you want to understand about Yamarāja’s response.

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 todayThe Viṣṇudūtas’ Statements Were TriumphantThis 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 6.3.1? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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