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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

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19

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How to study this verse, in six steps

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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

6.3.28 6.3.30

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.3.29

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

जिह्वा न वक्ति भगवद्गुणनामधेयं

चेतश्च न स्मरति तच्चरणारविन्दम् ।

कृष्णाय नो नमति यच्छिर एकदापि

तानानयध्वमसतोऽकृतविष्णुकृत्यान् ॥ २९ ॥

jihvā na vakti bhagavad-guṇa-nāmadheyaṁ

cetaś ca na smarati tac-caraṇāravindam

kṛṣṇāya no namati yac-chira ekadāpi

tān ānayadhvam asato ’kṛta-viṣṇu-kṛtyān

Translation

My dear servants, please bring to me only those sinful persons who do not use their tongues to chant the holy name and qualities of Kṛṣṇa, whose hearts do not remember the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa even once, and whose heads do not bow down even once before Lord Kṛṣṇa. Send me those who do not perform their duties toward Viṣṇu, which are the only duties in human life. Please bring me all such fools and rascals.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Human Life Is Meant to Please Viṣṇu

1
The purpose of human life is to please Lord Viṣṇu. The social and spiritual divisions of varṇāśrama-dharma are also meant to bring people nearer to Him.
2
Our true self-interest is to return home, back to Godhead. Every human being is expected to perform duties meant for approaching Lord Viṣṇu.
3
Yamarāja calls for those who neglect these duties: they do not chant Kṛṣṇa’s holy name, remember His lotus feet or bow before Him.

Key points from the purport

The word viṣṇu-kṛtyān is very important in this verse because the purpose of human life is to please Lord Viṣṇu.
Every human being is expected to perform duties meant for approaching Lord Viṣṇu.
One who does not chant the holy name of Viṣṇu (Kṛṣṇa), who does not bow down to the Deity of Viṣṇu, and who does not remember the lotus feet of Viṣṇu is punishable by Yamarāja.

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· 1

Quoted in the purport ofSB 10.88.8

Please bring me all such fools and rascals.”

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

Chapter 3: Yamarāja Instructs His Messengers

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

When they chant the holy name of the Lord without offenses, they are no longer subject to my rulings. If by chance they commit some sinful act, they are protected by the holy name of the Lord because that is where their interest lies.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 6.3

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

jihvāthe tongue
nanot
vaktichants
bhagavatof the Supreme Personality of Godhead
guṇatranscendental qualities
nāmaand the holy name
dheyamimparting
cetaḥthe heart

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
Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting
Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 6.3
In this verse: “chant”, “holy name”
Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct
Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 6.3
In this verse: “duties”, “varṇāśrama-dharma”
Śuddhi · Inner transformation
The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 6.3
In this verse: “sinful”