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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 6.3.19

Who is speaking and story frame

धर्मं तु साक्षाद्भ‍गवत्प्रणीतं

न वै विदुऋर्षयो नापि देवा: ।

न सिद्धमुख्या असुरा मनुष्या:

कुतो नु विद्याधरचारणादय: ॥ १९ ॥

dharmaṁ tu sākṣād bhagavat-praṇītaṁ

na vai vidur ṛṣayo nāpi devāḥ

na siddha-mukhyā asurā manuṣyāḥ

kuto nu vidyādhara-cāraṇādayaḥ

Translation

Real religious principles are enacted by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Although fully situated in the mode of goodness, even the great ṛṣis who occupy the topmost planets cannot ascertain the real religious principles, nor can the demigods or the leaders of Siddhaloka, to say nothing of the asuras, ordinary human beings, Vidyādharas and Cāraṇas.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Real Religion Is Surrender to Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    Real religious principles are enacted by the Supreme Personality of Godhead and transcend the three modes of nature. Even great sages and demigods cannot ascertain them on their own.

  2. 2

    Some Vedic rituals maintain peace and order among materialistic people. Their purpose is gradual elevation to knowing Kṛṣṇa, not attachment to ceremonies as the final goal.

  3. 3

    The real religious principle is to give up all other duties and surrender to Kṛṣṇa’s lotus feet. This principle must be learned directly from the Supreme Lord or His special representative.

Key points from the purport
  • Real religious principles are nistraiguṇya, above the three modes of material nature, or transcendental.
  • The Yamadūtas did not know these transcendental religious principles, and therefore when prevented from arresting Ajāmila they were surprised.
  • Herein it is stated that the real religious principle is that which is given by the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

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· 5

The purport of SB 6.3.19 quotesBG 2.42

Materialistic persons who attach all their faith to the Vedic rituals are described in Bhagavad-gītā (2.42), wherein Kṛṣṇa says, veda-vāda-ratāḥ pārtha nānyad astīti vādinaḥ: the supposed followers of the Vedas say that there is nothing beyond the Vedic ceremonies.

Quoted in the purport ofSB 3.9.10

Twelve personalities — Brahmā, Nārada, Lord Śiva, Kumāra, Kapila, Manu, Prahlāda Mahārāja, Janaka Mahārāja, Bhīṣma, Bali, Śukadeva Gosvāmī and Yamarāja — are agents of the Lord authorized to speak and propagate the principles of religion.”

Quoted in the purport ofSB 4.24.42

Since Kṛṣṇa is the original propounder of all kinds of religious principles, it is said, dharmaṁ tu sākṣād bhagavat-praṇītam.

Quoted in the purport ofSB 5.3.20

Dharmaṁ tu sākṣād bhagavat-praṇītam. Dharma is given by the Supreme Personality of Godhead, just as the law is given by the state government.

Quoted in the purport ofSB 10.60.2

As stated in the Sixth Canto of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (6.3.19) dharmaṁ tu sākṣād bhagavat-praṇītam: “Religion is the law established by God.”

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 3: Yamarāja Instructs His Messengers

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

No one but the Lord Himself can deliver that confidential religious system to human society. It is by the mercy of the Lord that the transcendental system of religion can be understood by His pure devotees, and specifically by the twelve mahājanas Lord Brahmā, Nārada Muni, Lord Śiva, the Kumāras, Kapila, Manu, Prahlāda, Janaka, Bhīṣma, Bali, Śukadeva Gosvāmī and me.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.3
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. dharmamreal religious principles, or bona fide laws of religion
  2. tubut
  3. sākṣātdirectly
  4. bhagavatby the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  5. praṇītamenacted
  6. nanot
  7. vaiindeed
  8. viduḥthey know
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

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

    In this verse: “religious”, “principles”, “duties”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 6.3

    In this verse: “attachment”, “materialistic”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 6.3

    In this verse: “surrender”

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

Is my religious practice helping me surrender to Kṛṣṇa, or am I treating the practice itself as the final goal?

Practice

Before your religious practice today, consciously renew your intention to know Kṛṣṇa and surrender to Him.

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 147 more lectures. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Quoted in 147 other lectures

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 todayReal Religion Is Surrender to KṛṣṇaOne of the 108 chosen lessons: a practice and a question from this verse

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 6.3.19? Get an answer from the verses themselves.