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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 6.5.34

Who is speaking and story frame

एतस्मिन् काल उत्पातान् बहून् पश्यन् प्रजापति: ।

पूर्ववन्नारदकृतं पुत्रनाशमुपाश‍ृणोत् ॥ ३४ ॥

etasmin kāla utpātān

bahūn paśyan prajāpatiḥ

pūrvavan nārada-kṛtaṁ

putra-nāśam upāśṛṇot

Translation

At this time, Prajāpati Dakṣa observed many inauspicious signs, and he heard from various sources that his second group of sons, the Savalāśvas, had followed the path of their elder brothers in accordance with the instructions of Nārada.

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.

Dakṣa Hears of His Sons’ Choice

  1. 1

    Prajāpati Dakṣa observed many inauspicious signs.

  2. 2

    He heard from various sources about his second group of sons, the Savalāśvas.

  3. 3

    They had followed their elder brothers’ path in accordance with Nārada’s instructions.

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. etasminat this
  2. kāletime
  3. utpātāndisturbances
  4. bahūnmany
  5. paśyanseeing
  6. prajāpatiḥPrajāpati Dakṣa
  7. pūrva-vatlike before
  8. nāradaby the great sage Nārada Muni
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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 6.5

    In this verse: “heard”

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

How do I respond when someone close to me follows spiritual instruction?

Practice

Pause today to reflect on your response to a loved one’s spiritual choices.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDakṣa Hears of His Sons’ ChoiceThis 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 6.5.34? Get an answer from the verses themselves.