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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
6.5.436.6.1

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.5.44

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 6.5.44inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीशुक उवाच

प्रतिजग्राह तद्ब‍ाढं नारद: साधुसम्मत: ।

एतावान्साधुवादो हि तितिक्षेतेश्वर: स्वयम् ॥ ४४ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca

pratijagrāha tad bāḍhaṁ

nāradaḥ sādhu-sammataḥ

etāvān sādhu-vādo hi

titikṣeteśvaraḥ svayam

Translation

Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: My dear King, since Nārada Muni is an approved saintly person, when cursed by Prajāpati Dakṣa he replied, “tad bāḍham: Yes, what you have said is good. I accept this curse.” He could have cursed Prajāpati Dakṣa in return, but because he is a tolerant and merciful sādhu, he took no action.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Tolerance Opens the Way to Mercy

  1. 1

    Nārada Muni accepted Dakṣa’s curse without retaliating, though he had the power to curse him in return. A sādhu is tolerant, merciful, peaceful and friendly to all living entities.

  2. 2

    Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu teaches that one should be humbler than grass, more tolerant than a tree and ready to respect others. In this state of mind, one can constantly chant the Lord’s holy name.

  3. 3

    Nārada deliberately stayed to hear Dakṣa’s harsh words so that Dakṣa could become relieved of anger. He hoped Dakṣa would repent, become a Vaiṣṇava and be delivered.

Key points from the purport
  • Because Nārada Muni is the most elevated of sādhus, devotees, to deliver Prajāpati Dakṣa he silently tolerated the curse.
  • Now, it may be asked why Nārada Muni stayed in the presence of Prajāpati Dakṣa and tolerated all his accusations and curses.
  • Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Sixth Canto, Fifth Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “Nārada Muni Cursed by Prajāpati Dakṣa.”

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 6.5.44 quotesSB 3.25.21

As stated in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (3.25.21): “The symptoms of a sādhu are that he is tolerant, merciful and friendly to all living entities.

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:

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-śukaḥ uvācaŚrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said
  2. pratijagrāhaaccepted
  3. tatthat
  4. bāḍhamso be it
  5. nāradaḥNārada Muni
  6. sādhu-sammataḥwho is an approved sādhu
  7. etāvānthis much
  8. sādhu-vādaḥappropriate for a saintly person
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: “chant”, “holy name”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 6.5

    In this verse: “king”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 6.5

    In this verse: “merciful”

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

When criticized, can I seek the other person’s spiritual good rather than an opportunity to retaliate?

Practice

Chant the Lord’s holy name for a few minutes today, consciously setting aside pride and cultivating respect for others.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayTolerance Opens the Way to 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 6.5.44? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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