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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 6.5.43

Who is speaking and story frame

तन्तुकृन्तन यन्नस्त्वमभद्रमचर: पुन: ।

तस्माल्लोकेषु ते मूढ न भवेद्भ्रमत: पदम् ॥ ४३ ॥

tantu-kṛntana yan nas tvam

abhadram acaraḥ punaḥ

tasmāl lokeṣu te mūḍha

na bhaved bhramataḥ padam

Translation

You have made me lose my sons once, and now you have again done the same inauspicious thing. Therefore you are a rascal who does not know how to behave toward others. You may travel all over the universe, but I curse you to have no residence anywhere.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

A Curse Becomes a Preacher’s Opportunity

  1. 1

    Dakṣa cursed Nārada Muni to have no settled residence anywhere. Attached to household life, Dakṣa thought constant travel would be a great punishment.

  2. 2

    For a preacher, such a punishment can be a boon. A parivrājakācārya is a teacher who travels for the benefit of human society.

  3. 3

    Śrīla Prabhupāda describes his own constant travel to spread Kṛṣṇa consciousness. He asks his young disciples to carry on traveling so that he can remain in one place to translate Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam.

Key points from the purport
  • Because Prajāpati Dakṣa was a gṛhamedhī who wanted to remain in household life, he thought that if Nārada Muni could not remain in one place, but had to travel all over the world, that would be a great punishment for him.
  • Prajāpati Dakṣa cursed Nārada Muni by saying that although he had the facility to travel all over the universe, he would never be able to stay in one place.
  • Although I have many centers that would be suitable places of residence, I cannot stay anywhere, for I have been cursed by the parents of my young disciples.

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 5: Nārada Muni Cursed by Prajāpati Dakṣa

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

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. Since Nārada Muni, being fully qualified, was fixed in tolerance, he accepted Dakṣa’s curse.
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. tantu-kṛntanaO mischief-monger who have mercilessly separated my sons from me
  2. yatwhich
  3. naḥunto us
  4. tvamyou
  5. abhadraman inauspicious thing
  6. acaraḥhave done
  7. punaḥagain
  8. tasmāttherefore
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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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 6.5

    In this verse: “attached”, “household”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Could an inconvenience in my life become an opportunity to support devotional service?

Practice

Take one small step to help someone share Kṛṣṇa consciousness, even if doing so costs you some convenience.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayA Curse Becomes a Preacher’s OpportunityThis 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 6.5.43? Get an answer from the verses themselves.