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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
6.13.46.13.6

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.13.5

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:King Indrasince 6.13.5inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

इन्द्र उवाच

स्त्रीभूद्रुमजलैरेनो विश्वरूपवधोद्भ‍वम् ।

विभक्तमनुगृह्णद्भ‍िर्वृत्रहत्यां क्‍व मार्ज्म्यहम् ॥ ५ ॥

indra uvāca

strī-bhū-druma-jalair eno

viśvarūpa-vadhodbhavam

vibhaktam anugṛhṇadbhir

vṛtra-hatyāṁ kva mārjmy aham

Translation

King Indra replied: When I killed Viśvarūpa, I received extensive sinful reactions, but I was favored by the women, land, trees and water, and therefore I was able to divide the sin among them. But now if I kill Vṛtrāsura, another brāhmaṇa, how shall I free myself from the sinful reactions?

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.

Remember the Consequences of Past Actions

  1. 1

    Indra remembered the extensive sinful reactions he received after killing Viśvarūpa.

  2. 2

    Through the favor of women, land, trees and water, he had been able to divide that sin among them.

  3. 3

    He now feared killing another brāhmaṇa, Vṛtrāsura. He asked how he could become free from the resulting sinful reactions.

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:

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. The demigods advised Indra to perform an aśvamedha sacrifice, by which Nārāyaṇa would be pleased, for the performer of such a sacrifice is not implicated in sinful reactions even if he kills the entire universe.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.13
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. indraḥ uvācaKing Indra replied
  2. strīby women
  3. bhūthe earth
  4. drumathe trees
  5. jalaiḥand water
  6. enaḥthis (sin)
  7. viśvarūpaof Viśvarūpa
  8. vadhafrom the killing
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

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 6.13

    In this verse: “favored”, “favor”

  • 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

Does remembering a past mistake help me avoid repeating it?

Practice

Recall one harmful action you regret and write one concrete way to avoid repeating it today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 6.13's connections

Live this todayRemember the Consequences of Past ActionsThis 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 6.13.5? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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