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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 5: Nārada Muni Cursed by Prajāpati Dakṣa
6.5.27-286.5.30

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.5.29

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 6.5.21inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

इति तानपि राजेन्द्र प्रजासर्गधियो मुनि: ।

उपेत्य नारद: प्राह वाच: कूटानि पूर्ववत् ॥ २९ ॥

iti tān api rājendra

prajā-sarga-dhiyo muniḥ

upetya nāradaḥ prāha

vācaḥ kūṭāni pūrvavat

Translation

O King Parīkṣit, Nārada Muni approached these sons of Prajāpati Dakṣa, who were engaged in tapasya to beget children, and spoke enigmatic words to them just as he had spoken to their elder brothers.

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.

Nārada Approaches Those Performing Austerity

  1. 1

    The sons of Prajāpati Dakṣa were performing tapasya with the intention of begetting children.

  2. 2

    Nārada Muni approached them while they were engaged in these austerities.

  3. 3

    He spoke enigmatic words to them, just as he had spoken to their elder brothers.

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 5: Nārada Muni Cursed by Prajāpati Dakṣa

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

These sons, who were named the Savalāśvas, also engaged in worshiping Lord Viṣṇu to beget children, but Nārada Muni convinced them to become mendicants and not beget children. Foiled twice in his attempts to increase population, Prajāpati Dakṣa became most angry at Nārada Muni and cursed him, saying that in the future he would not be able to stay anywhere.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.5
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. itithus
  2. tānthem (the sons of Prajāpati Dakṣa known as the Savalāśvas)
  3. apialso
  4. rājendraO King Parīkṣit
  5. prajā-sarga-dhiyaḥwho were under the impression that begetting children was the most important duty
  6. muniḥthe great sage
  7. upetyaapproaching
  8. nāradaḥNārada
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 6.5

    In this verse: “king”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 6.5

    In this verse: “children”

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 willing to listen carefully when spiritual instruction is not immediately clear?

Practice

Reread this translation slowly and note one question you have about Nārada’s approach.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayNārada Approaches Those Performing AusterityThis 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 6.5.29? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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