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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
6.13.36.13.5

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.13.4

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 6.13.4inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीशुक उवाच

वृत्रविक्रमसंविग्ना: सर्वे देवा: सहर्षिभि: ।

तद्वधायार्थयन्निन्द्रं नैच्छद् भीतो बृहद्वधात् ॥ ४ ॥

śrī-śuka uvāca

vṛtra-vikrama-saṁvignāḥ

sarve devāḥ saharṣibhiḥ

tad-vadhāyārthayann indraṁ

naicchad bhīto bṛhad-vadhāt

Translation

Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī answered: When all the great sages and demigods were disturbed by the extraordinary power of Vṛtrāsura, they had assembled to ask Indra to kill him. Indra, however, being afraid of killing a brāhmaṇa, declined their request.

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 Feared Killing a Brāhmaṇa

  1. 1

    The great sages and demigods were disturbed by Vṛtrāsura’s extraordinary power.

  2. 2

    They assembled and asked Indra to kill him.

  3. 3

    Indra declined their request because he feared killing a brāhmaṇa. Their shared anxiety did not remove his concern.

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:

When all the demigods requested Indra to kill Vṛtrāsura, he refused because Vṛtrāsura was a brāhmaṇa. 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.
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. vṛtraof Vṛtrāsura
  3. vikramaby the powerful activities
  4. saṁvignāḥbeing full of anxieties
  5. sarveall
  6. devāḥthe demigods
  7. saha ṛṣibhiḥwith the great sages
  8. tat-vadhāyafor the killing of him
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”, “feared”

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

When others press me to act, do I pause to consider whether the action is wrong?

Practice

Before agreeing to one request today, pause and consider its possible harm.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayIndra Feared Killing a BrāhmaṇaThis 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 6.13.4? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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