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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 6.9.49

Who is speaking and story frame

न वेद कृपण: श्रेय आत्मनो गुणवस्तुद‍ृक् ।

तस्य तानिच्छतो यच्छेद्यदि सोऽपि तथाविध: ॥ ४९ ॥

na veda kṛpaṇaḥ śreya

ātmano guṇa-vastu-dṛk

tasya tān icchato yacched

yadi so ’pi tathā-vidhaḥ

Translation

Those who think material assets to be everything or to be the ultimate goal of life are called misers [kṛpaṇas]. They do not know the ultimate necessity of the soul. Moreover, if one awards that which is desired by such fools, he must also be considered foolish.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Know the Soul’s Real Interest

  1. 1

    A kṛpaṇa lives with a material, bodily concept of life and seeks material benefits. A brāhmaṇa knows the Absolute Truth and seeks spiritual benefit.

  2. 2

    Kṛṣṇa is supremely intelligent and does not simply fulfill foolish material requests. He gives intelligence that helps a person forget material desires and become attached to His lotus feet.

  3. 3

    The Lord may show special favor by taking away material possessions and teaching satisfaction in His service. Freedom from material bondage is the human being’s real self-interest.

Key points from the purport
  • A kṛpaṇa, however, is one who has a material, bodily concept of life.
  • The kṛpaṇas, who always desire material benefits, are foolish, whereas brāhmaṇas, who always desire spiritual benefits, are intelligent.
  • If a kṛpaṇa, not knowing his self-interest, foolishly asks for something material, one who awards it to him is also foolish.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 6.9.49 quotesCC Madhya 22.39

As stated by the Lord in the Caitanya-caritāmṛta (Madhya 22.39): “Since I am very intelligent, why should I give this fool material prosperity?

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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:

Seeking shelter of a demigod instead of worshiping the Supreme Personality of Godhead is compared to trying to cross the ocean by grasping the tail of a dog. A dog can swim, but that does not mean that one can cross the ocean by grasping a dog’s tail.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.9
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. nanot
  2. vedaknows
  3. kṛpaṇaḥa miserly living entity
  4. śreyaḥthe ultimate necessity
  5. ātmanaḥof the soul
  6. guṇa-vastu-dṛkwho is attracted by the creation of the modes of material nature
  7. tasyaof him
  8. tānthings created by the material energy
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”, “attached”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 6.9

    In this verse: “favor”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

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

    In this verse: “absolute truth”

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

Which of my desires serves my spiritual interest rather than only bodily comfort?

Practice

Turn one prayer for a material possession into a prayer for intelligence to be satisfied in Kṛṣṇa’s service.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKnow the Soul’s Real InterestThis 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 6.9.49? Get an answer from the verses themselves.