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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 7: Indra Offends His Spiritual Master, Bṛhaspati.
6.6.456.7.2-8

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.7.1

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:King Parīkṣitsince 6.7.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीराजोवाच

कस्य हेतो: परित्यक्ता आचार्येणात्मन: सुरा: ।

एतदाचक्ष्व भगवञ्छिष्याणामक्रमं गुरौ ॥ १ ॥

śrī-rājovāca

kasya hetoḥ parityaktā

ācāryeṇātmanaḥ surāḥ

etad ācakṣva bhagavañ

chiṣyāṇām akramaṁ gurau

Translation

Mahārāja Parīkṣit inquired from Śukadeva Gosvāmī: O great sage, why did the spiritual master of the demigods, Bṛhaspati, reject the demigods, who were his own disciples? What offense did the demigods commit against their spiritual master? Please describe to me this incident.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Inquire About Offenses to the Spiritual Master

  1. 1

    Mahārāja Parīkṣit respectfully asked why Bṛhaspati had rejected the demigods, his own disciples.

  2. 2

    The chapter describes how the demigods offended Bṛhaspati, how he left them, and how they were defeated.

  3. 3

    Following Lord Brahmā’s instructions, the demigods accepted Viśvarūpa as the priest to perform their sacrifice.

How it feels

Offense and dread → Moral reckoning. Heroic power does not guarantee inner freedom.

Chapters 7–10 of Canto 6: Indra, Bṛhaspati and the emergence of Vṛtrāsura. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 7: Indra Offends His Spiritual Master, Bṛhaspati.

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

As related in this chapter, Indra, the King of heaven, committed an offense at the feet of his spiritual master, Bṛhaspati. Bṛhaspati therefore left the demigods, who then had no priest.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.7
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-rājā uvācathe King inquired
  2. kasya hetoḥfor what reason
  3. parityaktāḥrejected
  4. ācāryeṇaby the spiritual master, Bṛhaspati
  5. ātmanaḥof himself
  6. surāḥall the demigods
  7. etatthis
  8. ācakṣvakindly describe
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

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 6.7

    In this verse: “offense”, “offended”

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 6.7

    In this verse: “inquired”

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 can I learn from Mahārāja Parīkṣit’s respectful desire to understand this offense?

Practice

Write down one sincere question you have about showing respect to the spiritual master.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayInquire About Offenses to the Spiritual MasterThis 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 6.7.1? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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