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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 ›
Canto 6 · Chapter 8: The Nārāyaṇa-kavaca Shield
6.8.4-66.8.8-10

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.8.7

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Viśvarūpasince 6.8.4-6inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

करन्यासं तत: कुर्याद् द्वादशाक्षरविद्यया ।

प्रणवादियकारान्तमङ्गुल्यङ्गुष्ठपर्वसु ॥ ७ ॥

kara-nyāsaṁ tataḥ kuryād

dvādaśākṣara-vidyayā

praṇavādi-ya-kārāntam

aṅguly-aṅguṣṭha-parvasu

Translation

Then one should chant the mantra composed of twelve syllables [oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya]. Preceding each syllable by the oṁkāra, one should place the syllables of the mantra on the tips of his fingers, beginning with the index finger of the right hand and concluding with the index finger of the left. The four remaining syllables should be placed on the joints of the thumbs.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Attend Carefully to Each Mantra Syllable

  1. 1

    The next instruction is to chant the twelve-syllable mantra oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya.

  2. 2

    Each syllable is preceded by the oṁkāra and placed on the fingertips, beginning with the right index finger and ending with the left index finger.

  3. 3

    The four remaining syllables are placed on the joints of the thumbs. The instruction gives a definite order for this placement.

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 8: The Nārāyaṇa-kavaca Shield

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The twelve-syllable mantra, which begins with the praṇava, oṁkāra, is oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya. One syllable should be placed on each of the fingers and should be preceded by the praṇava, oṁkāra.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.8
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. kara-nyāsamthe ritual known as kara-nyāsa, which assigns the syllables of the mantra to the fingers
  2. tataḥthereafter
  3. kuryātshould execute
  4. dvādaśa-akṣaracomposed of twelve syllables
  5. vidyayāwith the mantra
  6. praṇava-ādibeginning with the oṁkāra
  7. ya-kāra-antamending with the syllable ya
  8. aṅgulion the fingers, beginning with the index finger
  9. aṅguṣṭha-parvasuto the joints of the thumbs
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 6.8

    In this verse: “chant”

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 attentive are you to each syllable when you chant?

Practice

Read oṁ namo bhagavate vāsudevāya aloud slowly once, giving attention to its syllables.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayAttend Carefully to Each Mantra SyllableThis 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 6.8.7? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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