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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.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 6 · Chapter 13: King Indra Afflicted by Sinful Reaction
6.13.16.13.3

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.13.2

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

देवर्षिपितृभूतानि दैत्या देवानुगा: स्वयम् ।

प्रतिजग्मु: स्वधिष्ण्यानि ब्रह्मेशेन्द्रादयस्तत: ॥ २ ॥

devarṣi-pitṛ-bhūtāni

daityā devānugāḥ svayam

pratijagmuḥ sva-dhiṣṇyāni

brahmeśendrādayas tataḥ

Translation

Thereafter, the demigods, the great saintly persons, the inhabitants of Pitṛloka and Bhūtaloka, the demons, the followers of the demigods, and also Lord Brahmā, Lord Śiva and the demigods subordinate to Indra all returned to their respective homes. While departing, however, no one spoke to Indra.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Sinful Reaction Delayed Indra’s Return

  1. 1

    The assembled beings returned to their respective homes. While departing, no one spoke to Indra.

  2. 2

    Indra could not return with the others because he was disturbed at having killed Vṛtrāsura, who was actually a brāhmaṇa.

  3. 3

    Indra went to Mānasa-sarovara Lake to become free from sinful reactions. After leaving the lake, he performed an aśvamedha-yajña and then returned home.

Key points from the purport
  • Lord Brahmā, Lord Śiva and the other demigods returned to their respective abodes, but Indra did not, for he was disturbed at having killed Vṛtrāsura, who was actually a brāhmaṇa.
  • After killing Vṛtrāsura, Indra went to the Mānasa-sarovara Lake to become free from sinful reactions.
  • When he left the lake, he performed an aśvamedha-yajña and then returned to his own abode.

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:

The demigods, however, encouraged Indra not to fear killing him because Indra was protected by the Nārāyaṇa-kavaca, or the Supreme Personality of Godhead Himself, Lord Nārāyaṇa. Even by a glimpse of the chanting of Nārāyaṇa’s name, one becomes free from all the sinful reactions of killing a woman, a cow or a brāhmaṇa.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.13
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. devademigods
  2. ṛṣigreat saintly persons
  3. pitṛthe inhabitants of Pitṛloka
  4. bhūtāniand the other living entities
  5. daityāḥdemons
  6. deva-anugāḥthe inhabitants of other planets following the principles of the demigods
  7. svayamindependently (without asking permission from Indra)
  8. pratijagmuḥreturned
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”

  • 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 delayed return show me about the seriousness of sinful reactions?

Practice

Write down the sequence of Indra’s journey: the lake, the sacrifice, and his return home.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySinful Reaction Delayed Indra’s ReturnThis 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 6.13.2? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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