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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 · Texts 6.4.35-39

Who is speaking and story frame

श्रीशुक उवाच

इति स्तुत: संस्तुवत: स तस्मिन्नघमर्षणे ।

प्रादुरासीत्कुरुश्रेष्ठ भगवान् भक्तवत्सल: ॥ ३५ ॥

कृतपाद: सुपर्णांसे प्रलम्बाष्टमहाभुज: ।

चक्रशङ्खासिचर्मेषुधनु:पाशगदाधर: ॥ ३६ ॥

पीतवासा घनश्याम: प्रसन्नवदनेक्षण: ।

वनमालानिवीताङ्गो लसच्छ्रीवत्सकौस्तुभ: ॥ ३७ ॥

महाकिरीटकटक: स्फुरन्मकरकुण्डल: ।

काञ्‍च्यङ्गुलीयवलयनूपुराङ्गदभूषित: ॥ ३८ ॥

त्रैलोक्यमोहनं रूपं बिभ्रत् त्रिभुवनेश्वर: ।

वृतो नारदनन्दाद्यै: पार्षदै: सुरयूथपै: ।

स्तूयमानोऽनुगायद्भ‍ि: सिद्धगन्धर्वचारणै: ॥ ३९ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca

iti stutaḥ saṁstuvataḥ

sa tasminn aghamarṣaṇe

prādurāsīt kuru-śreṣṭha

bhagavān bhakta-vatsalaḥ

kṛta-pādaḥ suparṇāṁse

pralambāṣṭa-mahā-bhujaḥ

cakra-śaṅkhāsi-carmeṣu-

dhanuḥ-pāśa-gadā-dharaḥ

pīta-vāsā ghana-śyāmaḥ

prasanna-vadanekṣaṇaḥ

vana-mālā-nivītāṅgo

lasac-chrīvatsa-kaustubhaḥ

mahā-kirīṭa-kaṭakaḥ

sphuran-makara-kuṇḍalaḥ

kāñcy-aṅgulīya-valaya-

nūpurāṅgada-bhūṣitaḥ

trailokya-mohanaṁ rūpaṁ

bibhrat tribhuvaneśvaraḥ

vṛto nārada-nandādyaiḥ

pārṣadaiḥ sura-yūthapaiḥ

stūyamāno ’nugāyadbhiḥ

siddha-gandharva-cāraṇaiḥ

Translation

Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: The Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, who is extremely affectionate to His devotees, was very pleased by the prayers offered by Dakṣa, and thus He appeared at that holy place known as Aghamarṣaṇa. O Mahārāja Parīkṣit, best of the Kuru dynasty, the Lord’s lotus feet rested on the shoulders of His carrier, Garuḍa, and He appeared with eight long, mighty, very beautiful arms. In His hands He held a disc, conchshell, sword, shield, arrow, bow, rope and club — in each hand a different weapon, all brilliantly shining. His garments were yellow and His bodily hue deep bluish. His eyes and face were very cheerful, and from His neck to His feet hung a long garland of flowers. His chest was decorated with the Kaustubha jewel and the mark of Śrīvatsa. On His head was a gorgeous round helmet, and His ears were decorated with earrings resembling sharks. All these ornaments were uncommonly beautiful. The Lord wore a golden belt on His waist, bracelets on His arms, rings on His fingers, and ankle bells on His feet. Thus decorated by various ornaments, Lord Hari, who is attractive to all the living entities of the three worlds, is known as Puruṣottama, the best personality. He was accompanied by great devotees like Nārada, Nanda and all the principal demigods, led by the heavenly king, Indra, and the residents of various upper planetary systems such as Siddhaloka, Gandharvaloka and Cāraṇaloka. Situated on both sides of the Lord and behind Him as well, these devotees offered Him prayers continuously.

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.

Hari Affectionately Responds to His Devotee

  1. 1

    Hari, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, was pleased by Dakṣa’s prayers and appeared at Aghamarṣaṇa. He is extremely affectionate to His devotees.

  2. 2

    The Lord appeared with eight mighty arms, each holding a brilliantly shining weapon, and His lotus feet rested on Garuḍa’s shoulders. His face and eyes were cheerful, and His ornaments were uncommonly beautiful.

  3. 3

    Lord Hari attracts all living entities of the three worlds and is known as Puruṣottama, the best personality. The devotees accompanying Him continuously offered prayers.

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:

Being very satisfied by the prayers of Dakṣa, Lord Viṣṇu appeared before Dakṣa with eight arms. The Lord was dressed in yellow garments and had a blackish complexion.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.4
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-śukaḥ uvācaŚrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said
  2. itithus
  3. stutaḥbeing praised
  4. saṁstuvataḥof Dakṣa, who was offering prayers
  5. saḥthat Supreme Personality of Godhead
  6. tasminin that
  7. aghamarṣaṇeholy place celebrated as Aghamarṣaṇa
  8. prādurāsītappeared
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 6.4

    In this verse: “devotees”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 6.4

    In this verse: “king”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

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

    In this verse: “nanda”

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 detail of Hari’s appearance helps you reflect on His beauty and affection?

Practice

Reread the description of Hari’s form and offer one brief prayer of appreciation.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHari Affectionately Responds to His DevoteeThis 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 6.4.35-39? Get an answer from the verses themselves.