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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 11: The Transcendental Qualities of Vṛtrāsura
6.11.186.11.20

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.11.19

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śrī Vṛtrāsurasince 6.11.14inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

सुरेश कस्मान्न हिनोषि वज्रं

पुर: स्थिते वैरिणि मय्यमोघम् ।

मा संशयिष्ठा न गदेव वज्र:

स्यान्निष्फल: कृपणार्थेव याच्ञा ॥ १९ ॥

sureśa kasmān na hinoṣi vajraṁ

puraḥ sthite vairiṇi mayy amogham

mā saṁśayiṣṭhā na gadeva vajraḥ

syān niṣphalaḥ kṛpaṇārtheva yācñā

Translation

O King of the demigods, since I, your enemy, am standing before you, why don’t you hurl your thunderbolt at me? Although your attack upon me with your club was certainly useless, like a request of money from a miser, the thunderbolt you carry will not be useless. You need have no doubts about this.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Lord Viṣṇu’s Order Never Fails

  1. 1

    Indra doubted his thunderbolt because his earlier attack with the club had failed disastrously.

  2. 2

    Vṛtrāsura, being a Vaiṣṇava, understood Lord Viṣṇu’s purpose. He assured Indra that the thunderbolt prepared according to the Lord’s instructions would not fail.

  3. 3

    Vṛtrāsura was certain that he would return home, back to Godhead. He saw Indra’s victory and his own return to Godhead as benefits for both.

Key points from the purport
  • Therefore even though Indra stood with the thunderbolt to hurl against Vṛtrāsura, he was doubtful, thinking that the thunderbolt might also fail.
  • Vṛtrāsura was eager to be killed by the thunderbolt manufactured according to Lord Viṣṇu’s instructions because he was sure that he would thus return home, back to Godhead.
  • In effect, therefore, Vṛtrāsura told Indra, “If you want to kill me, since I am your enemy, take this opportunity.

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

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

Further reading

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 summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.11
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. sura-īśaO King of the demigods
  2. kasmātwhy
  3. nanot
  4. hinoṣiyou hurl
  5. vajramthe thunderbolt
  6. puraḥ sthitestanding in front
  7. vairiṇiyour enemy
  8. mayiat me
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 6.11

    In this verse: “king”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does Vṛtrāsura’s confidence differ from Indra’s doubt?

Practice

Spend a minute reflecting on the purport’s teaching that Lord Viṣṇu’s order never fails.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayLord Viṣṇu’s Order Never FailsThis 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 6.11.19? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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