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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
6.12.326.12.34

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.12.33

Nirodha· Winding up
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 6.12.23inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

वज्रस्तु तत्कन्धरमाशुवेग:

कृन्तन् समन्तात् परिवर्तमान: ।

न्यपातयत् तावदहर्गणेन

यो ज्योतिषामयने वार्त्रहत्ये ॥ ३३ ॥

vajras tu tat-kandharam āśu-vegaḥ

kṛntan samantāt parivartamānaḥ

nyapātayat tāvad ahar-gaṇena

yo jyotiṣām ayane vārtra-hatye

Translation

Although the thunderbolt revolved around Vṛtrāsura’s neck with great speed, separating his head from his body took one complete year — 360 days, the time in which the sun, moon and other luminaries complete a northern and southern journey. Then, at the suitable time for Vṛtrāsura to be killed, his head fell to the ground.

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’s Head Fell at the Suitable Time

  1. 1

    The thunderbolt revolved around Vṛtrāsura’s neck with great speed, yet separating his head from his body took one complete year.

  2. 2

    The translation describes this year as 360 days, during which the sun, moon and other luminaries complete a northern and southern journey.

  3. 3

    Vṛtrāsura’s head fell to the ground at the suitable time for him to be killed.

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. vajraḥthe thunderbolt
  2. tubut
  3. tat-kandharamhis neck
  4. āśu-vegaḥalthough very fast
  5. kṛntancutting
  6. samantātall around
  7. parivartamānaḥrevolving
  8. nyapātayatcaused to fall
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Nirodha · Returning home, back to Godhead

    What happens when everything here comes to an end? · Subject 8 of 10

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 strikes you about the contrast between the thunderbolt’s great speed and the time required?

Practice

Read the translation slowly once, noticing both “one complete year” and “at the suitable time.”

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayVṛtrāsura’s Head Fell at the Suitable TimeThis 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 6.12.33? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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