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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 10: The Battle Between the Demigods and Vṛtrāsura
6.10.166.10.19-22

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 6.10.17-18

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 6.10.11inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

रुद्रैर्वसुभिरादित्यैरश्विभ्यां पितृवह्निभि: ।

मरुद्भ‍िर्ऋभुभि: साध्यैर्विश्वेदेवैर्मरुत्पतिम् ॥ १७ ॥

द‍ृष्ट्वा वज्रधरं शक्रं रोचमानं स्वया श्रिया ।

नामृष्यन्नसुरा राजन्मृधे वृत्रपुर:सरा: ॥ १८ ॥

rudrair vasubhir ādityair

aśvibhyāṁ pitṛ-vahnibhiḥ

marudbhir ṛbhubhiḥ sādhyair

viśvedevair marut-patim

dṛṣṭvā vajra-dharaṁ śakraṁ

rocamānaṁ svayā śriyā

nāmṛṣyann asurā rājan

mṛdhe vṛtra-puraḥsarāḥ

Translation

O King, when all the asuras came onto the battlefield, headed by Vṛtrāsura, they saw King Indra carrying the thunderbolt and surrounded by the Rudras, Vasus, Ādityas, Aśvinī-kumāras, Pitās, Vahnis, Maruts, Ṛbhus, Sādhyas and Viśvadevas. Surrounded by his company, Indra shone so brightly that his effulgence was intolerable to the demons.

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.

Indra’s Radiance Is Intolerable to the Demons

  1. 1

    The asuras entered the battlefield headed by Vṛtrāsura.

  2. 2

    They saw Indra carrying the thunderbolt and surrounded by groups of demigods, including the Rudras, Vasus and Ādityas.

  3. 3

    Indra shone brightly amid his company. His effulgence was intolerable to the demons.

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 10: The Battle Between the Demigods and Vṛtrāsura

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Unable to tolerate the effulgence of the demigods, the asuras fled the battle, leaving Vṛtrāsura, their commander in chief, to fight for himself. Vṛtrāsura, however, seeing the demons fleeing, instructed them in the importance of fighting and dying in the battlefield.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.10
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. rudraiḥby the Rudras
  2. vasubhiḥby the Vasus
  3. ādityaiḥby the Ādityas
  4. aśvibhyāmby the Aśvinī-kumāras
  5. pitṛby the Pitās
  6. vahnibhiḥand the Vahnis
  7. marudbhiḥby the Maruts
  8. ṛbhubhiḥby the Ṛbhus
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 6.10

    In this verse: “king”

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

What stands out to me about the contrast between Indra’s radiance and the demons’ response?

Practice

Reread the translation and briefly describe what the asuras saw when they entered the battlefield.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayIndra’s Radiance Is Intolerable to the DemonsThis 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 6.10.17-18? Get an answer from the verses themselves.