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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
6.12.306.12.32

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.12.31

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 6.12.23inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

निगीर्णोऽप्यसुरेन्द्रेण न ममारोदरं गत: ।

महापुरुषसन्नद्धो योगमायाबलेन च ॥ ३१ ॥

nigīrṇo ’py asurendreṇa

na mamārodaraṁ gataḥ

mahāpuruṣa-sannaddho

yoga-māyā-balena ca

Translation

The protective armor of Nārāyaṇa, which Indra possessed, was identical with Nārāyaṇa Himself, the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Protected by that armor and by his own mystic power, King Indra, although swallowed by Vṛtrāsura, did not die within the demon’s belly.

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.

Nārāyaṇa’s Armor Protects Indra

  1. 1

    Indra possessed the protective armor of Nārāyaṇa.

  2. 2

    That armor was identical with Nārāyaṇa Himself, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  3. 3

    Protected by the armor and by his own mystic power, Indra did not die within Vṛtrāsura’s belly.

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 assumed a gigantic form and swallowed King Indra, but Indra, being protected by the talisman known as Nārāyaṇa-kavaca, was able to protect himself even within Vṛtrāsura’s body. Thus he emerged from Vṛtrāsura’s abdomen and severed the demon’s head from his body with his powerful thunderbolt.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.12
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. nigīrṇaḥswallowed
  2. apialthough
  3. asura-indreṇaby the best of the demons, Vṛtrāsura
  4. nanot
  5. mamāradied
  6. udaramthe abdomen
  7. gataḥreaching
  8. mahā-puruṣaby the armor of the Supreme Lord, Nārāyaṇa
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 6.12

    In this verse: “king”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 6.12

    In this verse: “protective”

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

What does this verse tell me about the armor’s relationship with Nārāyaṇa?

Practice

Read aloud the sentence identifying Nārāyaṇa’s armor with the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayNārāyaṇa’s Armor Protects IndraThis 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 6.12.31? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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