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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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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
6.12.66.12.8

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.12.7

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Vṛtrāsurasince 6.12.7inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

युयुत्सतां कुत्रचिदाततायिनां

जय: सदैकत्र न वै परात्मनाम् ।

विनैकमुत्पत्तिलयस्थितीश्वरं

सर्वज्ञमाद्यं पुरुषं सनातनम् ॥ ७ ॥

yuyutsatāṁ kutracid ātatāyināṁ

jayaḥ sadaikatra na vai parātmanām

vinaikam utpatti-laya-sthitīśvaraṁ

sarvajñam ādyaṁ puruṣaṁ sanātanam

Translation

Vṛtrāsura continued: O Indra, no one is guaranteed of being always victorious but the original enjoyer, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Bhagavān. He is the cause of creation, maintenance and annihilation, and He knows everything. Being dependent and being obliged to accept material bodies, belligerent subordinates are sometimes victorious and sometimes defeated.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Serve Sincerely; Leave Results to Kṛṣṇa

  1. 1

    Only the Supreme Personality of Godhead is always victorious. Living entities act under His direction, although they mistakenly think themselves independent doers.

  2. 2

    Victory and defeat are arranged by the Lord through material nature. Pride in victory and moroseness in defeat are therefore useless.

  3. 3

    Our duty is to work sincerely to fulfill Kṛṣṇa’s will, without being absorbed in success or failure. The goal is that our service may be recognized by Kṛṣṇa.

Key points from the purport
  • As for the subordinate living entities, they fight under the arrangement of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • One should fully depend on the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is responsible for the victory and defeat of all living entities.
  • Victory or defeat depends on the Supreme Lord.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 6.12.7 quotesBG 15.15

The Lord says in Bhagavad-gītā (15.15): “I am seated in everyone’s heart, and from Me come remembrance, knowledge and forgetfulness.”

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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:

“The Supreme Personality of Godhead,” he said, “is the cause of victory and defeat. Not knowing that the Supreme Lord is the cause of all causes, fools and rascals try to take credit for victory or defeat themselves, but everything is actually under the control of the Lord.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.12
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yuyutsatāmof those who are belligerent
  2. kutracitsometimes
  3. ātatāyināmarmed with weapons
  4. jayaḥvictory
  5. sadāalways
  6. ekatrain one place
  7. nanot
  8. vaiindeed
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Āśraya · The summum bonum

    Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 6.12

    In this verse: “material”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 6.12

    In this verse: “duty”

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 6.12

    In this verse: “pride”

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 continue serving Kṛṣṇa sincerely even when the results disappoint me?

Practice

Perform one act of devotional service carefully today, leaving its result to Kṛṣṇa.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayServe Sincerely; Leave Results to KṛṣṇaThis 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.

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