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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
6.9.336.9.35

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.9.34

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

दुरवबोध इव तवायं विहारयोगो यदशरणोऽशरीर इदमनवेक्षितास्मत्समवाय आत्मनैवाविक्रियमाणेन सगुणमगुण: सृजसि पासि हरसि ॥ ३४ ॥

duravabodha iva tavāyaṁ vihāra-yogo yad aśaraṇo ’śarīra idam anavekṣitāsmat-samavāya ātmanaivāvikriyamāṇena saguṇam aguṇaḥ sṛjasi pāsi harasi.

Translation

O Lord, You need no support, and although You have no material body, You do not need cooperation from us. Since You are the cause of the cosmic manifestation and You supply its material ingredients without being transformed, You create, maintain and annihilate this cosmic manifestation by Yourself. Nevertheless, although You appear engaged in material activity, You are transcendental to all material qualities. Consequently these transcendental activities of Yours are extremely difficult to understand.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa Pervades Everything Without Losing His Form

  1. 1

    Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, always remains in Goloka Vṛndāvana. Without undergoing any change, He is simultaneously all-pervading.

  2. 2

    The Lord creates, maintains and annihilates the cosmic manifestation without needing anyone’s support. Although He acts upon material nature, He remains beyond its qualities.

  3. 3

    Having no material body does not mean that the Lord has no form. He retains His transcendental form while extending everywhere throughout the material creation.

Key points from the purport
  • Nevertheless, although Kṛṣṇa is situated in His own abode, Goloka Vṛndāvana, He is simultaneously all-pervading and is therefore present everywhere.
  • The demigods are understood to be various limbs of the Supreme Lord’s body, although the Supreme Lord has no material body and does not need anyone’s help.
  • The Lord keeps His transcendental form, and at the same time He extends everywhere, in every nook and corner of the material creation.

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:

Since water was also infested with sinful reactions, when bubbles appear in water it cannot be used for any purpose. After Viśvarūpa was killed, his father, Tvaṣṭā, performed a sacrifice to kill King Indra.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.9
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. duravabodhaḥdifficult to understand
  2. ivaquite
  3. tavaYour
  4. ayamthis
  5. vihāra-yogaḥengagement in the pastimes of material creation, maintenance and annihilation
  6. yatwhich
  7. aśaraṇaḥnot dependent on any other support
  8. aśarīraḥwithout having a material body
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “understand”

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 I mistakenly think that the Lord’s presence everywhere means He cannot have a personal form?

Practice

Reread the translation today, remembering that Kṛṣṇa remains unchanged and retains His transcendental form.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Pervades Everything Without Losing His FormThis 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 6.9.34? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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