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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
6.13.76.13.10

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 6.13.8-9

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

ब्रह्महा पितृहा गोघ्नो मातृहाचार्यहाघवान् ।

श्वाद: पुल्कसको वापि शुद्ध्येरन् यस्य कीर्तनात् ॥ ८ ॥

तमश्वमेधेन महामखेन

श्रद्धान्वितोऽस्माभिरनुष्ठितेन ।

हत्वापि सब्रह्मचराचरं त्वं

न लिप्यसे किं खलनिग्रहेण ॥ ९ ॥

brahma-hā pitṛ-hā go-ghno

mātṛ-hācārya-hāghavān

śvādaḥ pulkasako vāpi

śuddhyeran yasya kīrtanāt

tam aśvamedhena mahā-makhena

śraddhānvito ’smābhir anuṣṭhitena

hatvāpi sabrahma-carācaraṁ tvaṁ

na lipyase kiṁ khala-nigraheṇa

Translation

One who has killed a brāhmaṇa, one who has killed a cow or one who has killed his father, mother or spiritual master can be immediately freed from all sinful reactions simply by chanting the holy name of Lord Nārāyaṇa. Other sinful persons, such as dog-eaters and caṇḍālas, who are less than śūdras, can also be freed in this way. But you are a devotee, and we shall help you by performing the great horse sacrifice. If you please Lord Nārāyaṇa in that way, why should you be afraid? You will be freed even if you kill the entire universe, including the brāhmaṇas, not to speak of killing a disturbing demon like Vṛtrāsura.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Chant Sincerely, Never to Excuse Sin

  1. 1

    The holy name of the Lord is so spiritually potent that even one utterance can remove more sinful reactions than one can imagine producing. Regular chanting and Deity worship assure purification for sincere devotees.

  2. 2

    The Hare Kṛṣṇa movement offers everyone purification, regardless of birth or family. Anyone can be purified by chanting the holy name under the direction of a pure devotee.

  3. 3

    Intentionally committing sins on the strength of chanting is a most serious offense to the holy name. Purposefully arranging atonement to excuse sinful deeds cannot relieve the performer.

Key points from the purport
  • The holy name is so spiritually potent that simply by chanting the holy name one can be freed from the reactions to all sinful activities.
  • This does not mean, however, that one should intentionally commit sinful acts and think himself free from the reactions because he is chanting the holy name.
  • Even such sinful persons can certainly all be purified if they chant the holy name of the Lord under the direction of a pure devotee.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 6.13.8-9 quotesSB 2.4.18

As confirmed in Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (2.4.18): “Kirātas, Hūṇas, Āndhras, Pulindas, Pulkaśas, Ābhīras, Śumbhas, Yavanas, members of the Khasa races, and even others addicted to sinful acts can be purified by taking shelter of devotees of the Lord, for He is the supreme power.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. brahma-hāa person who has killed a brāhmaṇa
  2. pitṛ-hāa person who has killed his father
  3. go-ghnaḥa person who has killed a cow
  4. mātṛ-hāa person who has killed his mother
  5. ācārya-hāa person who has killed his spiritual master
  6. agha-vānsuch a sinful person
  7. śva-adaḥa dog-eater
  8. pulkasakaḥa caṇḍāla, one who is less than a śūdra
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 6.13

    In this verse: “devotee”, “devotees”, “worship”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 6.13

    In this verse: “chanting”, “holy name”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 6.13

    In this verse: “mother”, “father”

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

Am I seeking purification through chanting, or treating it as an excuse to repeat wrongdoing?

Practice

Spend a few quiet minutes chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, with a sincere resolve not to use chanting to excuse a harmful act.

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.

The purport quotesSB 2.4.18

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

Live this todayChant Sincerely, Never to Excuse SinThis 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 6.13.8-9? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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