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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.4.11

Who is speaking and story frame

आतिष्ठत सतां मार्गं कोपं यच्छत दीपितम् ।

पित्रा पितामहेनापि जुष्टं व: प्रपितामहै: ॥ ११ ॥

ātiṣṭhata satāṁ mārgaṁ

kopaṁ yacchata dīpitam

pitrā pitāmahenāpi

juṣṭaṁ vaḥ prapitāmahaiḥ

Translation

The path of goodness traversed by your father, grandfather and great-grandfathers is that of maintaining the subjects [prajās], including the men, animals and trees. That is the path you should follow. Unnecessary anger is contrary to your duty. Therefore I request you to control your anger.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Control Anger and Follow Responsible Examples

  1. 1

    Soma urges the Pracetās to follow the path of goodness walked by their father, grandfather and great-grandfathers: maintaining their subjects.

  2. 2

    The word prajā includes all who have taken birth within a government’s jurisdiction. Responsible rulers protect human beings, animals and other living beings.

  3. 3

    An exalted royal family earns its position through protection and responsibility. Unnecessary anger is contrary to this duty and should be controlled.

Key points from the purport
  • Here the words pitrā pitāmahenāpi juṣṭaṁ vaḥ prapitāmahaiḥ depict an honest royal family, consisting of the kings, their father, their grandfather and their great-grandfathers.
  • Such a royal family has a prestigious position because it maintains the citizens, or prajās.
  • Thus Soma, the king of the moon, here reminds the Pracetās about the glories of their father, grandfather and great-grandfathers.

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

Anger and conflict → Spiritual commitment. Competing understandings of duty create relational tension.

Chapters 4–6 of Canto 6: Dakṣa, Nārada and the consequences of preaching. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 4: The Haṁsa-guhya Prayers Offered to the Lord by Prajāpati Dakṣa

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Naturally many weeds and unnecessary trees grew, and no food grains were produced. Indeed, all the land became like a forest.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.4
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. ātiṣṭhatajust follow
  2. satām mārgamthe path of the great saintly personalities
  3. kopamthe anger
  4. yacchatasubdue
  5. dīpitamwhich is now awakened
  6. pitrāby the father
  7. pitāmahena apiand by the grandfather
  8. juṣṭamexecuted
  9. vaḥyour
  10. prapitāmahaiḥby the great-grandfathers
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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 6.4

    In this verse: “duty”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 6.4

    In this verse: “rulers”, “government’s”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 6.4

    In this verse: “father”

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

Which example of responsible care could help you control anger and fulfil your duties?

Practice

Before responding to one frustration today, pause and choose an action that protects rather than harms those in your care.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Live this todayControl Anger and Follow Responsible ExamplesThis 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 6.4.11? Get an answer from the verses themselves.