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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.
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Canto 6 · Chapter 10: The Battle Between the Demigods and Vṛtrāsura
6.10.266.10.28

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.10.27

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 6.10.11inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तानक्षतान् स्वस्तिमतो निशाम्य

शस्त्रास्त्रपूगैरथ वृत्रनाथा: ।

द्रुमैर्द‍ृषद्भ‍िर्विविधाद्रिश‍ृङ्गै

रविक्षतांस्तत्रसुरिन्द्रसैनिकान् ॥ २७ ॥

tān akṣatān svastimato niśāmya

śastrāstra-pūgair atha vṛtra-nāthāḥ

drumair dṛṣadbhir vividhādri-śṛṅgair

avikṣatāṁs tatrasur indra-sainikān

Translation

When the soldiers of the demons, commanded by Vṛtrāsura, saw that the soldiers of King Indra were quite well, having not been injured at all by their volleys of weapons, not even by the trees, stones and mountain peaks, the demons were very much afraid.

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.

Failed Attacks Bring Fear

  1. 1

    The soldiers commanded by Vṛtrāsura saw that King Indra’s soldiers were still quite well.

  2. 2

    Neither their volleys of weapons nor their trees, stones and mountain peaks had injured the demigods.

  3. 3

    Seeing their attacks fail completely, the demons became very much afraid.

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:

Vṛtrāsura, however, seeing the demons fleeing, instructed them in the importance of fighting and dying in the battlefield. One who is victorious in battle gains material possessions, and one who dies in the battlefield attains a residence at once in the celestial heavens.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.10
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tānthem (the soldiers of the demigods)
  2. akṣatānnot injured
  3. svasti-mataḥbeing very healthy
  4. niśāmyaseeing
  5. śastra-astra-pūgaiḥby the bunches of weapons and mantras
  6. athathereupon
  7. vṛtra-nāthāḥthe soldiers led by Vṛtrāsura
  8. drumaiḥby the trees
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 6.10

    In this verse: “king”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 6.10

    In this verse: “afraid”

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

How did seeing the unharmed soldiers change the demons’ confidence?

Practice

Write one sentence describing the connection between the demons’ failed attacks and their fear.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayFailed Attacks Bring FearThis 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 6.10.27? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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