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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 13: King Indra Afflicted by Sinful Reaction
6.13.106.13.12-13

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.13.11

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 6.13.10inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तयेन्द्र: स्मासहत्तापं निर्वृतिर्नामुमाविशत् ।

ह्रीमन्तं वाच्यतां प्राप्तं सुखयन्त्यपि नो गुणा: ॥ ११ ॥

tayendraḥ smāsahat tāpaṁ

nirvṛtir nāmum āviśat

hrīmantaṁ vācyatāṁ prāptaṁ

sukhayanty api no guṇāḥ

Translation

Following the advice of the demigods, Indra killed Vṛtrāsura, and he suffered because of this sinful killing. Although the other demigods were happy, he could not derive happiness from the killing of Vṛtrāsura. Indra’s other good qualities, such as tolerance and opulence, could not help him in his grief.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Material Opulence Cannot Remove Sinful Misery

  1. 1

    Although the other demigods were happy, Indra suffered from killing Vṛtrāsura. His tolerance and opulence could not relieve his grief.

  2. 2

    People accused Indra of killing a brāhmaṇa for the sake of enjoying heavenly material happiness.

  3. 3

    One cannot become happy by committing sinful acts, even with material opulence. Despite being King of heaven, Indra remained unhappy under these accusations.

Key points from the purport
  • One cannot be happy by committing sinful acts, even if one is endowed with material opulence.
  • People began to blaspheme him, saying, “This person has killed a brāhmaṇa for the sake of enjoying heavenly material happiness.”
  • Therefore in spite of being King of heaven and enjoying material opulence, Indra was always unhappy because of the accusations of the populace.

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

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. tayāby that action
  2. indraḥKing Indra
  3. smaindeed
  4. asahatsuffered
  5. tāpammisery
  6. nirvṛtiḥhappiness
  7. nanot
  8. amumhim
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 6.13

    In this verse: “sinful”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 6.13

    In this verse: “material”

  • 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

Am I expecting comfort or success to give happiness while overlooking a wrong action?

Practice

Before pursuing one material comfort today, check whether obtaining it would involve doing something wrong.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayMaterial Opulence Cannot Remove Sinful MiseryThis 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 6.13.11? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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