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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.
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Canto 6 · Chapter 12: Vṛtrāsura’s Glorious Death
6.12.16.12.3

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.12.2

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 6.12.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

ततो युगान्ताग्निकठोरजिह्व-

माविध्य शूलं तरसासुरेन्द्र: ।

क्षिप्त्वा महेन्द्राय विनद्य वीरो

हतोऽसि पापेति रुषा जगाद ॥ २ ॥

tato yugāntāgni-kaṭhora-jihvam

āvidhya śūlaṁ tarasāsurendraḥ

kṣiptvā mahendrāya vinadya vīro

hato ’si pāpeti ruṣā jagāda

Translation

Then Vṛtrāsura, the great hero of the demons, whirled his trident, which had points like the flames of the blazing fire at the end of the millennium. With great force and anger he threw it at Indra, roaring and exclaiming loudly, “O sinful one, thus shall I kill you!”

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Vṛtrāsura Launches His Fierce Attack

  1. 1

    Vṛtrāsura is described as the great hero of the demons.

  2. 2

    He whirled his trident, whose points resembled the flames of the blazing fire at the end of the millennium.

  3. 3

    With great force and anger, he threw the trident at Indra and loudly threatened to kill him.

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:

After Vṛtrāsura finished speaking, he released his trident against King Indra with great anger, but Indra, using his thunderbolt, which was many times more powerful than the trident, broke the trident to pieces and cut off one of Vṛtrāsura’s arms. Nevertheless, Vṛtrāsura used his remaining arm to strike Indra with an iron mace, making the thunderbolt fall from Indra’s hand.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.12
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tataḥthereafter
  2. yuga-anta-agnilike the fire at the end of every millennium
  3. kaṭhorasharp
  4. jihvampossessing points
  5. āvidhyatwirling
  6. śūlamthe trident
  7. tarasāwith great force
  8. asura-indraḥthe great hero of the demons, Vṛtrāsura
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

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 6.12

    In this verse: “sinful”

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

Which details help me understand the intensity of this battle?

Practice

Read the translation slowly and identify the words describing Vṛtrāsura’s force and anger.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayVṛtrāsura Launches His Fierce AttackThis 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 6.12.2? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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