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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
6.13.66.13.8-9

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.13.7

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The ṛṣissince 6.13.7inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

हयमेधेन पुरुषं परमात्मानमीश्वरम् ।

इष्ट्वा नारायणं देवं मोक्ष्यसेऽपि जगद्वधात् ॥ ७ ॥

hayamedhena puruṣaṁ

paramātmānam īśvaram

iṣṭvā nārāyaṇaṁ devaṁ

mokṣyase ’pi jagad-vadhāt

Translation

The ṛṣis continued: O King Indra, by performing an aśvamedha sacrifice and thereby pleasing the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is the Supersoul, Lord Nārāyaṇa, the supreme controller, one can be relieved even of the sinful reactions for killing the entire world, not to speak of killing a demon like Vṛtrāsura.

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.

Pleasing Lord Nārāyaṇa Brings Release

  1. 1

    The sages explained that an aśvamedha sacrifice was meant to please Lord Nārāyaṇa.

  2. 2

    Lord Nārāyaṇa is the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the Supersoul and the supreme controller.

  3. 3

    The sages declared that pleasing Him could relieve even the sinful reactions for killing the entire world. On that basis, they reassured Indra about killing Vṛtrāsura.

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 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. 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.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.13
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. hayamedhenaby the sacrifice known as aśvamedha
  2. puruṣamthe Supreme Person
  3. paramātmānamthe Supersoul
  4. īśvaramthe supreme controller
  5. iṣṭvāworshiping
  6. nārāyaṇamLord Nārāyaṇa
  7. devamthe Supreme Lord
  8. mokṣyaseyou will be liberated
  9. apieven
  10. jagat-vadhātfrom the sin for killing the whole world
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • 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

Do I see pleasing the Supreme Lord as the purpose of worship?

Practice

Offer a brief prayer to Lord Nārāyaṇa, acknowledging Him as the Supersoul and supreme controller.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPleasing Lord Nārāyaṇa Brings ReleaseThis 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 6.13.7? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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