Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 6.12.35
Nirodha· Winding upVṛtrāsura Returns Home, Back to Godhead
“O King Parīkṣit, subduer of enemies, the living spark then came forth from Vṛtrāsura’s body and returned home, back to Godhead. While all the demigods looked on, he entered the transcendental world to become an associate of Lord Saṅkarṣaṇa.”
What the purport teaches
- Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura explains that Vṛtrāsura stopped his bodily activities and became situated in trance, thinking of returning home, back to Godhead.
- Actually, Indra cut to pieces the body left by Vṛtrāsura; Vṛtrāsura himself was not killed. His neck was so stiff during his trance that the thunderbolt took 360 days to cut it.
- In his original consciousness, Vṛtrāsura returned to the transcendental world to become an associate of Lord Saṅkarṣaṇa. The purport identifies this world as Vaikuṇṭhaloka, where Saṅkarṣaṇa eternally resides.
Try this today
Spend one quiet minute remembering Vṛtrāsura’s goal: returning home, back to Godhead, to become an associate of Lord Saṅkarṣaṇa.
Ask yourself
How does Vṛtrāsura’s return to Godhead change your understanding of his apparent death?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points, practice and question are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport. Read the full purport to go deeper.