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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 6.7.38

Who is speaking and story frame

श्रीबादरायणिरुवाच

तेभ्य एवं प्रतिश्रुत्य विश्वरूपो महातपा: ।

पौरहित्यं वृतश्चक्रे परमेण समाधिना ॥ ३८ ॥

śrī-bādarāyaṇir uvāca

tebhya evaṁ pratiśrutya

viśvarūpo mahā-tapāḥ

paurahityaṁ vṛtaś cakre

parameṇa samādhinā

Translation

Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī continued: O King, after making this promise to the demigods, the exalted Viśvarūpa, surrounded by the demigods, performed the necessary priestly activities with great enthusiasm and attention.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Serve Attentively for Others’ Benefit

  1. 1

    Samādhi means complete absorption with an undiverted mind. Viśvarūpa took the demigods’ request seriously and performed his priestly duties with enthusiasm and attention.

  2. 2

    Viśvarūpa accepted the priesthood to benefit the demigods, not for material gain. A purohita is a well-wisher of the family.

  3. 3

    A priest’s first duty is to help his disciples benefit spiritually and materially. His satisfaction should come from their welfare, not from performing Vedic rituals for personal benefit.

Key points from the purport
  • Viśvarūpa, who was a most learned brāhmaṇa, not only accepted the request of the demigods, but took their request seriously and performed the activities of priesthood with an undiverted mind.
  • The word puraḥ means “family,” and hita means “benefit.”
  • Thus the word purohita indicates that the priest is the well-wisher of the family.

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

Further reading

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 summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.7
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-bādarāyaṇiḥ uvācaŚrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said
  2. tebhyaḥunto them (the demigods)
  3. evamthus
  4. pratiśrutyapromising
  5. viśvarūpaḥViśvarūpa
  6. mahā-tapāḥthe most exalted personality
  7. paurahityamthe priesthood
  8. vṛtaḥsurrounded by them
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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

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 6.7

    In this verse: “duty”, “duties”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 6.7

    In this verse: “king”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 6.7

    In this verse: “material”

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 I serve others, am I thinking of their benefit or my own gain?

Practice

Choose one helpful task today and complete it with undivided attention, without seeking a reward.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayServe Attentively for Others’ BenefitThis 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 6.7.38? Get an answer from the verses themselves.