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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
6.12.316.12.33

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.12.32

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 6.12.23inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

भित्त्वा वज्रेण तत्कुक्षिं निष्क्रम्य बलभिद् विभु: ।

उच्चकर्त शिर: शत्रोर्गिरिश‍ृङ्गमिवौजसा ॥ ३२ ॥

bhittvā vajreṇa tat-kukṣiṁ

niṣkramya bala-bhid vibhuḥ

uccakarta śiraḥ śatror

giri-śṛṅgam ivaujasā

Translation

With his thunderbolt, King Indra, who was also extremely powerful, pierced through Vṛtrāsura’s abdomen and came out. Indra, the killer of the demon Bala, then immediately cut off Vṛtrāsura’s head, which was as high as the peak of a mountain.

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.

Indra Emerges and Ends the Battle

  1. 1

    King Indra was also extremely powerful. With his thunderbolt, he pierced Vṛtrāsura’s abdomen.

  2. 2

    Indra came out through the opening he had made.

  3. 3

    He then immediately cut off Vṛtrāsura’s head, which was as high as the peak of a mountain.

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:

Thus he emerged from Vṛtrāsura’s abdomen and severed the demon’s head from his body with his powerful thunderbolt. Severing the demon’s head took one complete year to accomplish.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.12
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. bhittvāpiercing
  2. vajreṇaby the thunderbolt
  3. tat-kukṣimthe abdomen of Vṛtrāsura
  4. niṣkramyagetting out
  5. bala-bhitthe slayer of the demon Bala
  6. vibhuḥthe powerful Lord Indra
  7. uccakartacut off
  8. śiraḥthe head
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

  • 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

Can I clearly follow the sequence of actions described in this verse?

Practice

Summarize the verse in one sentence, keeping the actions in their stated order.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayIndra Emerges and Ends the BattleThis 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 6.12.32? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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