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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
6.12.36.12.5

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.12.4

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

छिन्नैकबाहु: परिघेण वृत्र:

संरब्ध आसाद्य गृहीतवज्रम् ।

हनौ तताडेन्द्रमथामरेभं

वज्रं च हस्तान्न्यपतन्मघोन: ॥ ४ ॥

chinnaika-bāhuḥ parigheṇa vṛtraḥ

saṁrabdha āsādya gṛhīta-vajram

hanau tatāḍendram athāmarebhaṁ

vajraṁ ca hastān nyapatan maghonaḥ

Translation

Although one of his arms was severed from his body, Vṛtrāsura angrily approached King Indra and struck him on the jaw with an iron mace. He also struck the elephant that carried Indra. Thus Indra dropped the thunderbolt from his hand.

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.

The Battle Turns Against Indra

  1. 1

    Although Vṛtrāsura had lost one arm, he continued to approach Indra angrily.

  2. 2

    He struck Indra on the jaw with an iron mace and also struck Indra’s elephant.

  3. 3

    As a result, Indra dropped the thunderbolt from his hand.

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:

Nevertheless, Vṛtrāsura used his remaining arm to strike Indra with an iron mace, making the thunderbolt fall from Indra’s hand. Indra, being very ashamed of this, did not pick up the thunderbolt from the ground, but Vṛtrāsura encouraged King Indra to pick it up and fight.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.12
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. chinnacut off
  2. ekaone
  3. bāhuḥwhose arm
  4. parigheṇawith a mace of iron
  5. vṛtraḥVṛtrāsura
  6. saṁrabdhaḥbeing very angry
  7. āsādyareaching
  8. gṛhītataking up
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

How does this sudden reversal challenge my expectation that an advantage will last?

Practice

Recall one recent setback and briefly note how the situation changed.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Battle Turns Against 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 6.12.4? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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