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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
6.3.96.3.11

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.3.10

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Yamadūtassince 6.3.6inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तांस्ते वेदितुमिच्छामो यदि नो मन्यसे क्षमम् ।

नारायणेत्यभिहिते मा भैरित्याययुर्द्रुतम् ॥ १० ॥

tāṁs te veditum icchāmo

yadi no manyase kṣamam

nārāyaṇety abhihite

mā bhair ity āyayur drutam

Translation

As soon as the sinful Ajāmila uttered the name Nārāyaṇa, these four beautiful men immediately arrived and reassured him, saying, “Do not fear. Do not fear.” We wish to know about them from Your Lordship. If you think we are able to understand them, kindly describe who they are.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Nārāyaṇa’s Name Brings Immediate Reassurance

  1. 1

    As soon as Ajāmila uttered the name Nārāyaṇa, four beautiful men arrived and reassured him: “Do not fear. Do not fear.”

  2. 2

    The Yamadūtas were deeply distressed by their defeat and wanted the Viṣṇudūtas punished. Before acting on their distress, however, they sought an explanation from Yamarāja.

  3. 3

    They asked who these persons were and whether they were able to understand them. Their request acknowledged the need to hear from someone who knew.

Key points from the purport
  • The order carriers of Yamarāja, being very much aggrieved because of their defeat by the four Viṣṇudūtas, wanted to bring them before Yamarāja and, if possible, punish them.
  • Before pursuing either course, however, they wanted to know about the Viṣṇudūtas from Yamarāja, who is also omniscient.

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:

Yamarāja said, “Although Ajāmila was calling for his son, he chanted the holy name of the Lord, Nārāyaṇa, and simply by a glimpse of the chanting of the holy name, he immediately achieved the association of Lord Viṣṇu’s order carriers, who saved him from your attempt to arrest him. This is quite all right.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.3
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tānabout them
  2. tefrom you
  3. veditumto know
  4. icchāmaḥwe wish
  5. yadiif
  6. naḥfor us
  7. manyaseyou think
  8. kṣamamsuitable
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

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 6.3

    In this verse: “kindly”, “distressed”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 6.3

    In this verse: “fear”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 6.3

    In this verse: “sinful”

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

What does the immediate reassurance given to Ajāmila help me appreciate about the name Nārāyaṇa?

Practice

Today, quietly utter the name Nārāyaṇa with attention, remembering the reassurance described in this verse.

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. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Live this todayNārāyaṇa’s Name Brings Immediate ReassuranceThis 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.

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