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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
6.3.66.3.8

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.3.7

Sthāna· The universe in order
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Yamadūtassince 6.3.6inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

अतस्त्वमेको भूतानां सेश्वराणामधीश्वर: ।

शास्ता दण्डधरो नृणां शुभाशुभविवेचन: ॥ ७ ॥

atas tvam eko bhūtānāṁ

seśvarāṇām adhīśvaraḥ

śāstā daṇḍa-dharo nṝṇāṁ

śubhāśubha-vivecanaḥ

Translation

The supreme judge must be one, not many. It was our understanding that you are that supreme judge and that you have jurisdiction even over the demigods. Our impression was that you are the master of all living entities, the supreme authority who discriminates between the pious and impious activities of all human beings.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Recognize the Limits of Your Understanding

  1. 1

    The Yamadūtas state that the supreme judge must be one, not many.

  2. 2

    They had understood Yamarāja to be that supreme judge, with jurisdiction even over the demigods.

  3. 3

    They believed he was the master of all living entities and the supreme authority distinguishing pious from impious human activities. They present this as their understanding.

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:

Neither King Indra, Varuṇa, Śiva, Brahmā, the seven ṛṣis nor I myself can understand the transcendental activities of the Supreme Lord, who is self-sufficient and beyond the reach of the material senses. With material senses, no one can attain enlightenment about Him.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.3
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. ataḥas such
  2. tvamyou
  3. ekaḥone
  4. bhūtānāmof all living beings
  5. sa-īśvarāṇāmincluding all the demigods
  6. adhīśvaraḥthe supreme master
  7. śāstāthe supreme ruler
  8. daṇḍa-dharaḥthe supreme administrator of punishment
  9. nṝṇāmof human society
  10. śubha-aśubha-vivecanaḥwho discriminates between what is auspicious and inauspicious
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Sthāna · Planetary systems

    How is the universe arranged, and what is our right place in it? · Subject 3 of 10

  • 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

Can I distinguish what I assume from what I have fully understood?

Practice

Choose one assumption you hold about spiritual authority and turn it into a question for further study.

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 todayRecognize the Limits of Your UnderstandingThis 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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