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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 13: King Indra Afflicted by Sinful Reaction
6.12.356.13.2

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.13.1

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 6.13.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीशुक उवाच

वृत्रे हते त्रयो लोका विना शक्रेण भूरिद ।

सपाला ह्यभवन् सद्यो विज्वरा निर्वृतेन्द्रिया: ॥ १ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca

vṛtre hate trayo lokā

vinā śakreṇa bhūrida

sapālā hy abhavan sadyo

vijvarā nirvṛtendriyāḥ

Translation

Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: O King Parīkṣit, who are so charitably disposed, when Vṛtrāsura was killed, all the presiding deities and everyone else in the three planetary systems was immediately pleased and free from trouble — everyone, that is, except Indra.

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 Alone Remained Troubled

  1. 1

    When Vṛtrāsura was killed, everyone in the three planetary systems was immediately pleased, except Indra.

  2. 2

    The presiding deities and those under their care became free from trouble.

  3. 3

    Indra did not share their relief. The happiness of everyone else did not mean that he too was happy.

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 13: King Indra Afflicted by Sinful Reaction

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Following this instruction from the demigods, King Indra fought Vṛtrāsura, but when Vṛtrāsura was killed, everyone was satisfied but King Indra, who knew Vṛtrāsura’s position. This is the nature of a great personality.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.13
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-śukaḥ uvācaŚrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said
  2. vṛtre hatewhen Vṛtrāsura was killed
  3. trayaḥ lokāḥthe three planetary systems (upper, middle and lower)
  4. vināexcept
  5. śakreṇaIndra, who is also called Śakra
  6. bhūri-daO Mahārāja Parīkṣit, giver of great charity
  7. sa-pālāḥwith the rulers of the various planets
  8. hiindeed
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

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 6.13

    In this verse: “free from”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 6.13

    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

Do I notice when someone does not share the relief that others feel?

Practice

Reread the translation and pause over the words “except Indra,” noticing the contrast.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayIndra Alone Remained TroubledThis 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 6.13.1? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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