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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

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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 7: Indra Offends His Spiritual Master, Bṛhaspati.

6.7.35 6.7.37

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.7.36

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Śrī Viśvarūpasince 6.7.35inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

अकिञ्चनानां हि धनं शिलोञ्छनं

तेनेह निर्वर्तितसाधुसत्क्रिय: ।

कथं विगर्ह्यं नु करोम्यधीश्वरा:

पौरोधसं हृष्यति येन दुर्मति: ॥ ३६ ॥

akiñcanānāṁ hi dhanaṁ śiloñchanaṁ

teneha nirvartita-sādhu-satkriyaḥ

kathaṁ vigarhyaṁ nu karomy adhīśvarāḥ

paurodhasaṁ hṛṣyati yena durmatiḥ

Translation

O exalted governors of various planets, the true brāhmaṇa, who has no material possessions, maintains himself by the profession of accepting śiloñchana. In other words, he picks up grains left in the field and on the ground in the wholesale marketplace. By this means, householder brāhmaṇas who actually abide by the principles of austerity and penance maintain themselves and their families and perform all necessary pious activities. A brāhmaṇa who desires to achieve happiness by gaining wealth through professional priesthood must certainly have a very low mind. How shall I accept such priesthood?

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Use Resources for the Lord’s Service

1
A first-class brāhmaṇa practices austerity, maintaining himself and his family by collecting grains left in fields and marketplaces.
2
Such a brāhmaṇa does not demand rewards from disciples to live in opulence. He accepts simplicity and depends on the mercy of the Lord.
3
Whatever opulence a brāhmaṇa receives from disciples should not be used for personal benefit. It must be used for the service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Key points from the purport

A first-class brāhmaṇa does not accept any rewards from his disciples or yajamānas.
Similarly, such brāhmaṇas go to marketplaces where grains are purchased and sold wholesale, and there they collect grains left by the merchants.
The conclusion is that although a brāhmaṇa may receive much opulence from his disciples, he should not utilize the rewards of his priesthood for his personal benefit; he must use them for the service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

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

Offense and dread → Moral reckoning. Heroic power does not guarantee inner freedom.

Chapters 7–10 of Canto 6: Indra, Bṛhaspati and the emergence of Vṛtrāsura. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Chapter 7: Indra Offends His Spiritual Master, Bṛhaspati.

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Following Lord Brahmā’s orders, the demigods accepted Viśvarūpa, who was a brāhmaṇa and the son of Tvaṣṭā, as their priest. Then they performed yajñas under the priesthood of Viśvarūpa and were able to conquer the demons.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 6.7

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

akiñcanānāmof persons who have taken to austerities and penances to become detached from worldly possessions
hicertainly
dhanamthe wealth
śilathe collecting of grains left in the field
uñchanamand the collecting of grains left in the wholesale marketplace
tenaby that means
ihahere
nirvartitaaccomplishing

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

Manvantara · The change of Manus
What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10
Moha · Material attachment
The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 6.7
In this verse: “householder”, “wealth”, “material”
Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct
Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 6.7
In this verse: “principles”
Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership
Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 6.7
In this verse: “governors”

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

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do I see resources as a means of personal luxury or an opportunity to serve the Lord?

Practice

Set aside one resource you already have for the service of the Supreme Personality of Godhead rather than personal enjoyment.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayUse Resources for the Lord’s ServiceThis 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.

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