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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
6.11.196.11.21

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.11.20

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śrī Vṛtrāsurasince 6.11.14inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

नन्वेष वज्रस्तव शक्र तेजसा

हरेर्दधीचेस्तपसा च तेजित: ।

तेनैव शत्रुं जहि विष्णुयन्त्रितो

यतो हरिर्विजय: श्रीर्गुणास्तत: ॥ २० ॥

nanv eṣa vajras tava śakra tejasā

harer dadhīces tapasā ca tejitaḥ

tenaiva śatruṁ jahi viṣṇu-yantrito

yato harir vijayaḥ śrīr guṇās tataḥ

Translation

O Indra, King of heaven, the thunderbolt you carry to kill me has been empowered by the prowess of Lord Viṣṇu and the strength of Dadhīci’s austerities. Since you have come here to kill me in accordance with Lord Viṣṇu’s order, there is no doubt that I shall be killed by the release of your thunderbolt. Lord Viṣṇu has sided with you. Therefore your victory, opulence and all good qualities are assured.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Returning to Godhead Is Real Victory

  1. 1

    Indra’s thunderbolt was empowered by Lord Viṣṇu’s prowess and Dadhīci’s austerities. Vṛtrāsura therefore assured Indra of victory in battle.

  2. 2

    The Supreme Lord, Kṛṣṇa, teaches that even reaching Brahmaloka does not end repeated birth and death. Heavenly enjoyment would leave Indra within the material world.

  3. 3

    One who returns to Godhead never returns to this material world. Thus real victory belonged to Vṛtrāsura, who would reach the spiritual world.

Key points from the purport
  • By hurling the thunderbolt, Indra would gain victory and enjoy the heavenly planets, remaining in the material world for repeated birth and death.
  • By killing Vṛtrāsura, Indra would not actually gain; he would remain in the material world.
  • Therefore victory was destined for Vṛtrāsura, not for Indra.

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:

Reminding Indra of his heinous activities, Vṛtrāsura said, “If one is a devotee of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Lord Viṣṇu, and depends on Lord Viṣṇu in every respect, then victory, opulence and peace of mind are all inevitably available. Such a person has nothing for which to aspire in the three worlds.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.11
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. nanucertainly
  2. eṣaḥthis
  3. vajraḥthunderbolt
  4. tavaof yours
  5. śakraO Indra
  6. tejasāby the prowess
  7. hareḥof Lord Viṣṇu, the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  8. dadhīceḥof Dadhīci
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 6.11

    In this verse: “king”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 6.11

    In this verse: “death”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 6.11

    In this verse: “material”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Am I measuring success by temporary enjoyment or by progress toward returning to Godhead?

Practice

Write down one temporary goal and contrast it with the lasting goal of returning to Godhead.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayReturning to Godhead Is Real VictoryThis 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 6.11.20? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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