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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 6.5.39

Who is speaking and story frame

ननु भागवता नित्यं भूतानुग्रहकातरा: ।

ऋते त्वां सौहृदघ्नं वै वैरङ्करमवैरिणाम् ॥ ३९ ॥

nanu bhāgavatā nityaṁ

bhūtānugraha-kātarāḥ

ṛte tvāṁ sauhṛda-ghnaṁ vai

vairaṅ-karam avairiṇām

Translation

All the devotees of the Lord but you are very kind to the conditioned souls and are eager to benefit others. Although you wear the dress of a devotee, you create enmity with people who are not your enemies, or you break friendship and create enmity between friends. Are you not ashamed of posing as a devotee while performing these abominable actions?

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Serve With Tolerance and Mercy

  1. 1

    Those who train others in Kṛṣṇa consciousness may face criticism rather than appreciation. Their purpose is to help people become devotees and return home, back to Godhead.

  2. 2

    A devotee should be both tolerant and merciful, even when accused by those who do not understand. Devotees are friends of every living entity, though they may be mistaken for enemies.

  3. 3

    The duty of a preacher is to satisfy Lord Kṛṣṇa by sincerely sharing His message. Such service is recognized by the Lord and should not be stopped by opposition.

Key points from the purport
  • In India the caste brāhmaṇas have become enemies of the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement because we elevate foreigners, who are supposed to be mlecchas and yavanas, to the position of brāhmaṇas.
  • Devotees engaged in preaching should be prepared to be accused by ignorant persons, and yet they must be very merciful to the fallen conditioned souls.
  • Let us continue preaching the message of Lord Kṛṣṇa and not be afraid of enemies.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 6.5.39 quotesBG 18.68

As the Lord says in Bhagavad-gītā (18.68-69):

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. nanunow
  2. bhāgavatāḥdevotees of the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  3. nityameternally
  4. bhūta-anugraha-kātarāḥvery much anxious to bestow benedictions upon the fallen conditioned souls
  5. ṛteexcept
  6. tvāmyourself
  7. sauhṛda-ghnama breaker of friendship (therefore not countable among the bhāgavatas, or devotees of the Lord)
  8. vaiindeed
  9. vairam-karamyou create enmity
  10. avairiṇāmtoward persons who are not enemies
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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

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 6.5

    In this verse: “friendship”, “friends”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 6.5

    In this verse: “devotees”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 6.5

    In this verse: “duty”

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 can I remain kind when someone misunderstands my devotional intentions?

Practice

Share one teaching of Lord Kṛṣṇa with someone willing to hear, without seeking praise or arguing.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayServe With Tolerance and MercyThis 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 6.5.39? Get an answer from the verses themselves.