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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 12: Vṛtrāsura’s Glorious Death
6.12.176.12.19

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.12.18

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 6.12.18inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीशुक उवाच

इन्द्रो वृत्रवच: श्रुत्वा गतालीकमपूजयत् ।

गृहीतवज्र: प्रहसंस्तमाह गतविस्मय: ॥ १८ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca

indro vṛtra-vacaḥ śrutvā

gatālīkam apūjayat

gṛhīta-vajraḥ prahasaṁs

tam āha gata-vismayaḥ

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Hearing the straightforward, instructive words of Vṛtrāsura, King Indra praised him and again took the thunderbolt in his hand. Without bewilderment or duplicity, he then smiled and spoke to Vṛtrāsura as follows.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Recognize Devotion Beyond Outward Labels

  1. 1

    Indra was astonished by Vṛtrāsura’s straightforward, intelligent instructions. He had not expected such wisdom from someone considered a demon.

  2. 2

    Indra remembered Prahlāda Mahārāja and Bali Mahārāja, great devotees born in families of demons. Even so-called demons can have exalted devotion for the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  3. 3

    Indra praised Vṛtrāsura, took up his thunderbolt again and smiled reassuringly. He responded without bewilderment or duplicity.

Key points from the purport
  • King Indra, the greatest of the demigods, was astonished to hear the instructions of Vṛtrāsura, who was supposed to be a demon.
  • Then he remembered great devotees like Prahlāda Mahārāja and Bali Mahārāja, who had been born in the families of demons, and thus he came to his senses.
  • Even so-called demons sometimes have exalted devotion for the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

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 12: Vṛtrāsura’s Glorious Death

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Vṛtrāsura then spoke to King Indra as follows, instructing him very well. “The Supreme Personality of Godhead,” he said, “is the cause of victory and defeat.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.12
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-śukaḥ uvācaŚrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said
  2. indraḥKing Indra
  3. vṛtra-vacaḥthe words of Vṛtrāsura
  4. śrutvāhearing
  5. gata-alīkamwithout duplicity
  6. apūjayatworshiped
  7. gṛhīta-vajraḥtaking up the thunderbolt
  8. prahasansmiling
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 6.12

    In this verse: “devotion”, “devotees”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 6.12

    In this verse: “hearing”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 6.12

    In this verse: “king”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Could someone’s background cause me to overlook their devotion to the Supreme Lord?

Practice

When hearing a devotional instruction today, consider its meaning rather than judging only the speaker’s background.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 6.12's connections

Live this todayRecognize Devotion Beyond Outward LabelsThis 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 6.12.18? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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