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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
6.11.2-36.11.5

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.11.4

Manvantara· The Manus and right duty
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 6.11.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

किं व उच्चरितैर्मातुर्धावद्भ‍ि: पृष्ठतो हतै: ।

न हि भीतवध: श्लाघ्यो न स्वर्ग्य: शूरमानिनाम् ॥ ४ ॥

kiṁ va uccaritair mātur

dhāvadbhiḥ pṛṣṭhato hataiḥ

na hi bhīta-vadhaḥ ślāghyo

na svargyaḥ śūra-māninām

Translation

O demigods, these demoniac soldiers have taken birth uselessly. Indeed, they have come from the bodies of their mothers exactly like stool. What is the benefit of killing such enemies from behind while they are running in fear? One who considers himself a hero should not kill an enemy who is afraid of losing his life. Such killing is never glorious, nor can it promote one to the heavenly planets.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

True Heroism Has Ethical Limits

  1. 1

    Vṛtrāsura rebuked both sides: the demons for fleeing in fear and the demigods for killing them from behind.

  2. 2

    A hero fights face to face, determined to gain victory or lay down his life. Killing an enemy who is fleeing in fear is inglorious.

  3. 3

    The purport uses strong comparisons to stress the value of being heroic, learned, religious, and devoted to the Lord.

Key points from the purport
  • Vṛtrāsura rebuked both the demigods and the demoniac soldiers because the demons were running in fear of their lives and the demigods were killing them from behind.
  • When an enemy turns his back and runs in fear of his life, he should not be killed.
  • Vṛtrāsura insulted the demoniac soldiers by comparing them to the stool of their mothers.

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:

When the demigods saw Vṛtrāsura’s attitude, they were so afraid that they practically fainted, and Vṛtrāsura began trampling them down. 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.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.11
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. kimwhat is the benefit
  2. vaḥfor you
  3. uccaritaiḥwith those like the stool
  4. mātuḥof the mother
  5. dhāvadbhiḥrunning away
  6. pṛṣṭhataḥfrom the back
  7. hataiḥkilled
  8. nanot
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

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

    In this verse: “fear”, “afraid”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 6.11

    In this verse: “mothers”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 6.11

    In this verse: “religious”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Do I seek recognition while overlooking fairness and devotion to the Lord?

Practice

In one disagreement today, speak directly and fairly rather than taking advantage of another person's fear.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayTrue Heroism Has Ethical LimitsThis 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 6.11.4? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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