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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
6.13.146.13.16

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.13.15

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

स आवसत्पुष्करनालतन्तू-

नलब्धभोगो यदिहाग्निदूत: ।

वर्षाणि साहस्रमलक्षितोऽन्त:

सञ्चिन्तयन् ब्रह्मवधाद्विमोक्षम् ॥ १५ ॥

sa āvasat puṣkara-nāla-tantūn

alabdha-bhogo yad ihāgni-dūtaḥ

varṣāṇi sāhasram alakṣito ’ntaḥ

sañcintayan brahma-vadhād vimokṣam

Translation

Always thinking of how he could be relieved from the sinful reaction for killing a brāhmaṇa, King Indra, invisible to everyone, lived in the lake for one thousand years in the subtle fibers of the stem of a lotus. The fire-god used to bring him his share of all yajñas, but because the fire-god was afraid to enter the water, Indra was practically starving.

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.

Hidden Indra Still Longs for Relief

  1. 1

    Indra lived unseen for one thousand years in the subtle fibers of a lotus stem within the lake.

  2. 2

    He continually thought about how to be relieved of the sinful reaction for killing a brāhmaṇa.

  3. 3

    The fire-god normally brought Indra his share of the yajñas, but was afraid to enter the water. Without those offerings, Indra was practically starving.

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:

Indeed, he could see sinful reaction personified following him, and thus he fled here and there in fear, thinking of how to rid himself of his sins. He went to Mānasa-sarovara, and there, under the protection of the goddess of fortune, he meditated for one thousand years.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.13
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. saḥhe (Indra)
  2. āvasatlived
  3. puṣkara-nāla-tantūnin the network of the fibers of a lotus stem
  4. alabdha-bhogaḥnot getting any material comfort (practically starving for all material needs)
  5. yatwhich
  6. ihahere
  7. agni-dūtaḥthe fire-god messenger
  8. varṣāṇicelestial years
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

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 6.13

    In this verse: “afraid”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 6.13

    In this verse: “king”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

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

    In this verse: “sinful”

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

What does Indra’s troubled seclusion show me about the difference between hiding and finding relief?

Practice

Take one quiet minute to acknowledge a wrong action rather than distract yourself from it.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHidden Indra Still Longs for ReliefThis 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 6.13.15? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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