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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 9: Appearance of the Demon Vṛtrāsura
6.9.316.9.33

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.9.32

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The demigodssince 6.9.31inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

यत्ते गतीनां तिसृणामीशितु: परमं पदम् ।

नार्वाचीनो विसर्गस्य धातर्वेदितुमर्हति ॥ ३२ ॥

yat te gatīnāṁ tisṛṇām

īśituḥ paramaṁ padam

nārvācīno visargasya

dhātar veditum arhati

Translation

O supreme controller, You control the three destinations [promotion to the heavenly planets, birth as a human being, and condemnation in hell], yet Your supreme abode is Vaikuṇṭha-dhāma. Since we appeared after You created this cosmic manifestation, Your activities are impossible for us to understand. We therefore have nothing to offer You but our humble obeisances.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Look Beyond Heaven to Vaikuṇṭha

  1. 1

    The Lord controls promotion to heaven, human birth and condemnation in hell. His own supreme abode is Vaikuṇṭha-dhāma.

  2. 2

    An inexperienced person generally does not know what benediction to request from the Lord. People often pray for heaven because they have no information of Vaikuṇṭhaloka.

  3. 3

    Vaikuṇṭhaloka is beyond the material planetary systems and is the ultimate resort of the Vaiṣṇavas. Recognizing their limited understanding, the demigods offer humble obeisances.

Key points from the purport
  • An inexperienced man generally does not know what to beg from the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • People generally pray to be promoted to the heavenly planets because they have no information of Vaikuṇṭhaloka.
  • Vaiṣṇavas have nothing to do with the other planetary systems.

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 9: Appearance of the Demon Vṛtrāsura

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The trees were also given one fourth of the sinful reactions, and therefore they drip sap, which is prohibited for drinking. Because women accepted one fourth of the sinful reactions, they are untouchable during their menstrual period.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.9
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yatwhich
  2. teof You
  3. gatīnām tisṛṇāmof the three destinations (the heavenly planets, the earthly planets and hell)
  4. īśituḥwho are the controller
  5. paramam padamthe supreme abode, Vaikuṇṭhaloka
  6. nanot
  7. arvācīnaḥa person appearing after
  8. visargasyathe creation
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Āśraya · The summum bonum

    Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 6.9

    In this verse: “understand”, “understanding”

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 6.9

    In this verse: “humble”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 6.9

    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

Do my prayers seek only a better material situation, or do they look beyond it?

Practice

Review one request you commonly make in prayer, then offer humble obeisances while remembering Vaikuṇṭha as the ultimate destination.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayLook Beyond Heaven to VaikuṇṭhaThis 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 6.9.32? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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