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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.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 6 · Chapter 12: Vṛtrāsura’s Glorious Death
6.12.86.12.10

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.12.9

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

ओज: सहो बलं प्राणममृतं मृत्युमेव च ।

तमज्ञाय जनो हेतुमात्मानं मन्यते जडम् ॥ ९ ॥

ojaḥ saho balaṁ prāṇam

amṛtaṁ mṛtyum eva ca

tam ajñāya jano hetum

ātmānaṁ manyate jaḍam

Translation

Our sensory prowess, mental power, bodily strength, living force, immortality and mortality are all subject to the superintendence of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Not knowing this, foolish people think the dull material body to be the cause of their activities.

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.

Our Powers Are Under the Lord’s Supervision

  1. 1

    The strength of our senses, mind and body is subject to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  2. 2

    Our living force, immortality and mortality are also under His supervision.

  3. 3

    Those who do not understand this mistakenly regard the dull material body as the cause of their activities.

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. ojaḥthe strength of the senses
  2. sahaḥthe strength of the mind
  3. balamthe strength of the body
  4. prāṇamthe living condition
  5. amṛtamimmortality
  6. mṛtyumdeath
  7. evaindeed
  8. caalso
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”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 6.12

    In this verse: “understand”

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

Do I regard my abilities as independent powers, or recognize the Lord’s supervision?

Practice

When using one ability today, pause to acknowledge that it is subject to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayOur Powers Are Under the Lord’s SupervisionThis 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 6.12.9? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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