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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
6.3.276.3.29

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.3.28

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Yamarājasince 6.3.12inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitYamarāja → the Yamadūtas

तानानयध्वमसतो विमुखान् मुकुन्द-

पादारविन्दमकरन्दरसादजस्रम् ।

निष्किञ्चनै: परमहंसकुलैरसङ्गै-

र्जुष्टाद्गृहे निरयवर्त्मनि बद्धतृष्णान् ॥ २८ ॥

tān ānayadhvam asato vimukhān mukunda-

pādāravinda-makaranda-rasād ajasram

niṣkiñcanaiḥ paramahaṁsa-kulair asaṅgair

juṣṭād gṛhe niraya-vartmani baddha-tṛṣṇān

Translation

Paramahaṁsas are exalted persons who have no taste for material enjoyment and who drink the honey of the Lord’s lotus feet. My dear servants, bring to me for punishment only persons who are averse to the taste of that honey, who do not associate with paramahaṁsas and who are attached to family life and worldly enjoyment, which form the path to hell.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Seek the Company of Devotees

  1. 1

    Paramahaṁsas have no taste for material enjoyment and relish the honey of the Lord’s lotus feet. Devotees try to spread Kṛṣṇa consciousness out of sympathy for all living entities.

  2. 2

    Yamarāja directs his servants toward those absorbed in worldly enjoyment rather than devotional service. Nations, communities and families cannot provide lasting protection.

  3. 3

    The purport concludes that one should associate with persons who engage in devotional service twenty-four hours a day.

Key points from the purport
  • He specifically advises the Yamadūtas to bring him the materialistic persons who are attached to household life merely for sex.
  • Yamarāja specifically advises his servants to bring these persons to him for punishment and not to bring the devotees, who always lick the honey at the lotus feet of the Lord, who are equal to everyone, and who try to preach Kṛṣṇa consciousness because of sympathy for all living entities.
  • Devotees are not liable to punishment by Yamarāja, but persons who have no information of Kṛṣṇa consciousness cannot be protected by their material life of so-called family enjoyment.

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:

Intelligent persons, however, take to the devotional service of the Lord. When they chant the holy name of the Lord without offenses, they are no longer subject to my rulings.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.3
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tānthem
  2. ānayadhvambring before me
  3. asataḥnondevotees (those who have not taken to Kṛṣṇa consciousness)
  4. vimukhānwho have turned against
  5. mukundaof Mukunda, the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  6. pāda-aravindaof the lotus feet
  7. makarandaof the honey
  8. rasātthe taste
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “attached”, “material”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 6.3

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotees”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 6.3

    In this verse: “protection”

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 seeking lasting shelter in devotional service or relying only on material arrangements?

Practice

Make time today for a brief conversation about Kṛṣṇa consciousness with someone engaged in devotional service.

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.

2 lectures given on it. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Live this todaySeek the Company of DevoteesThis 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 6.3.28? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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