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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 17: Mother Pārvatī Curses Citraketu
6.17.386.17.40

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.17.39

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 6.17.36inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

एतत्ते सर्वमाख्यातं यन्मां त्वं परिपृच्छसि ।

वृत्रस्यासुरजातेश्च कारणं भगवन्मते: ॥ ३९ ॥

etat te sarvam ākhyātaṁ

yan māṁ tvaṁ paripṛcchasi

vṛtrasyāsura-jāteś ca

kāraṇaṁ bhagavan-mateḥ

Translation

My dear King Parīkṣit, you inquired from me how Vṛtrāsura, a great devotee, took birth in a demoniac family. Thus I have tried to explain to you everything about this.

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.

An Inquiry About a Devotee Is Answered

  1. 1

    King Parīkṣit had asked how Vṛtrāsura, a great devotee, took birth in a demoniac family.

  2. 2

    The speaker now concludes that he has explained the matter in response to the King’s inquiry.

  3. 3

    Vṛtrāsura is described as a great devotee despite his demoniac family birth. Both facts are central to the question being answered.

How it feels

Parental grief → Detachment and surrender. A flashback discloses the devotional history behind Vṛtrāsura.

Chapters 14–17 of Canto 6: Citraketu's grief, realization and curse. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 17: Mother Pārvatī Curses Citraketu

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The so-called demigods consider themselves independent lords, and in this way they are misled from understanding that all living entities are part of the Supreme. This chapter concludes by glorifying the devotee and the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.17
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. etatthis
  2. teunto you
  3. sarvamall
  4. ākhyātamexplained
  5. yatwhich
  6. māmme
  7. tvamyou
  8. paripṛcchasiasked
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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 6.17

    In this verse: “inquired”, “inquiry”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 6.17

    In this verse: “devotee”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 6.17

    In this verse: “king”

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 sincere question would help you better understand the life of a devotee?

Practice

Write down one question about a devotee’s life that you would like to understand more clearly.

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 6.17's connections

Live this todayAn Inquiry About a Devotee Is AnsweredThis 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 6.17.39? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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