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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

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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 11: The Transcendental Qualities of Vṛtrāsura

6.11.12 6.11.14

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.11.13

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 6.11.6inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

स तं नृपेन्द्राहवकाम्यया रिपुं

वज्रायुधं भ्रातृहणं विलोक्य ।

स्मरंश्च तत्कर्म नृशंसमंह:

शोकेन मोहेन हसञ्जगाद ॥ १३ ॥

sa taṁ nṛpendrāhava-kāmyayā ripuṁ

vajrāyudhaṁ bhrātṛ-haṇaṁ vilokya

smaraṁś ca tat-karma nṛ-śaṁsam aṁhaḥ

śokena mohena hasañ jagāda

Translation

O King, when the great hero Vṛtrāsura saw Indra, his enemy, the killer of his brother, standing before him with a thunderbolt in his hand, desiring to fight, Vṛtrāsura remembered how Indra had cruelly killed his brother. Thinking of Indra’s sinful activities, he became mad with lamentation and forgetfulness. Laughing sarcastically, he spoke as follows.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Remembered Cruelty Brings Lamentation

1
Vṛtrāsura saw Indra standing before him with a thunderbolt, ready to fight.
2
Seeing his brother’s killer, Vṛtrāsura remembered how cruelly Indra had acted.
3
Thinking of Indra’s sinful activities, Vṛtrāsura became overwhelmed with lamentation and forgetfulness. He laughed sarcastically before speaking.

How it feels

Danger → Fearless longing. A seeming enemy reveals the heart of a great devotee.

Chapters 11–13 of Canto 6: Vṛtrāsura's prayers and final battle. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Chapter 11: The Transcendental Qualities of Vṛtrāsura

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Unable to tolerate this, Indra, the King of the demigods, threw his club at Vṛtrāsura, but Vṛtrāsura was such a great hero that he easily caught the club with his left hand and used it to beat Indra’s elephant. Struck by the blow of Vṛtrāsura, the elephant was pushed back fourteen yards and fell, with Indra on its back.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 6.11

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

saḥhe (Vṛtrāsura)
tamhim (the King of heaven, Indra)
nṛpa-indraO King Parīkṣit
āhava-kāmyayāwith a desire to fight
ripumhis enemy
vajra-āyudhamwhose weapon was the thunderbolt (made from the bones of Dadhīci)
bhrātṛ-haṇamwho was the killer of his brother
vilokyaseeing

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
Viraha · Longing in separation
Love and remembrance experienced in apparent absence. · Theme in SB 6.11
In this verse: “lamentation”
Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership
Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 6.11
In this verse: “king”
Śuddhi · Inner transformation
The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 6.11
In this verse: “sinful”

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does remembering a painful wrong affect the way I speak?

Practice

If a painful memory arises today, pause and notice its effect on your speech.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayRemembered Cruelty Brings LamentationThis 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.

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