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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
6.11.46.11.6

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.11.5

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

यदि व: प्रधने श्रद्धा सारं वा क्षुल्लका हृदि ।

अग्रे तिष्ठत मात्रं मे न चेद ग्राम्यसुखे स्पृहा ॥ ५ ॥

yadi vaḥ pradhane śraddhā

sāraṁ vā kṣullakā hṛdi

agre tiṣṭhata mātraṁ me

na ced grāmya-sukhe spṛhā

Translation

O insignificant demigods, if you truly have faith in your heroism, if you have patience in the cores of your hearts and if you are not ambitious for sense gratification, please stand before me for a moment.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Courage Does Not Exploit the Unwilling

  1. 1

    Vṛtrāsura challenged the demigods to stand before him if they truly had faith in their heroism.

  2. 2

    His challenge called for patience in their hearts and freedom from ambition for sense gratification.

  3. 3

    He said he would not kill those who were afraid of losing their lives or unwilling to fight.

Key points from the purport
  • Rebuking the demigods, Vṛtrāsura challenged, “O demigods, if you are actually heroes, stand before me now and try to show your prowess.
  • If you do not wish to fight, if you are afraid of losing your lives, I shall not kill you, for unlike you, I am not so evil minded as to kill persons who are neither heroic nor willing to fight.
  • If you have faith in your heroism, please stand before me.”

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:

Speaking very bravely, he stood alone to face the demigods. When the demigods saw Vṛtrāsura’s attitude, they were so afraid that they practically fainted, and Vṛtrāsura began trampling them down.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.11
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yadiif
  2. vaḥof you
  3. pradhanein battle
  4. śraddhāfaith
  5. sārampatience
  6. vāor
  7. kṣullakāḥO insignificant ones
  8. hṛdiin the core of the heart
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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

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “sense gratification”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

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

    In this verse: “afraid”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Can I show courage without pressuring someone who is afraid?

Practice

Today, avoid pressing someone into a confrontation they do not wish to enter.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayCourage Does Not Exploit the UnwillingThis 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 6.11.5? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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