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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

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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.

6.7.14 6.7.16

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.7.15

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:King Indrasince 6.7.15inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

अथाहममराचार्यमगाधधिषणं द्विजम् ।

प्रसादयिष्ये निशठ: शीर्ष्णा तच्चरणं स्पृशन् ॥ १५ ॥

athāham amarācāryam

agādha-dhiṣaṇaṁ dvijam

prasādayiṣye niśaṭhaḥ

śīrṣṇā tac-caraṇaṁ spṛśan

Translation

King Indra said: Therefore with great frankness and without duplicity I shall now bow my head at the lotus feet of Bṛhaspati, the spiritual master of the demigods. Because he is in the mode of goodness, he is fully aware of all knowledge and is the best of the brāhmaṇas. Now I shall touch his lotus feet and offer my obeisances unto him to try to satisfy him.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Approach the Spiritual Master Without Duplicity

1
Indra realized that he had not been a sincere disciple. He resolved to approach Bṛhaspati without duplicity and bow his head at his lotus feet.
2
By the spiritual master’s mercy one receives Kṛṣṇa’s mercy; without that grace, one cannot advance. Familiarity should never lead to contempt for the ācārya.
3
Kṛṣṇa teaches that one should approach a spiritual master with submission, sincere inquiry, and service. The self-realized spiritual master can impart knowledge because he has seen the truth.

Key points from the purport

Coming to his senses, King Indra realized that he was not a very sincere disciple of his spiritual master, Bṛhaspati.
A disciple should never be a hypocrite or be unfaithful to his spiritual master.
One should fully surrender unto the spiritual master. and with service (sevayā) one should approach him for further spiritual enlightenment.

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· 2

The purport of SB 6.7.15 quotesSB 11.17.27

In Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam (11.17.27), the spiritual master is also called ācārya.

The purport of SB 6.7.15 quotesBG 4.34

Therefore Kṛṣṇa advises in Bhagavad-gītā (4.34): “Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master.

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

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

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 summary Back to this verse in chapter 6.7

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

athatherefore
ahamI
amara-ācāryamthe spiritual master of the demigods
agādha-dhiṣaṇamwhose spiritual knowledge is deep
dvijamthe perfect brāhmaṇa
prasādayiṣyeI shall please
niśaṭhaḥwithout duplicity
śīrṣṇāwith my head
tat-caraṇamhis lotus feet
spṛśantouching

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 6.7
In this verse: “knowledge”, “inquiry”
Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership
Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 6.7
In this verse: “king”
Kṛpā · Divine mercy
Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 6.7
In this verse: “mercy”, “grace”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Is there any difference between the respect I show outwardly and the sincerity I feel within?

Practice

Write one sincere, submissive question you would like to ask the spiritual master.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Connected stories

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

The purport quotesSB 11.17.27

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 6.7's connections

Live this todayApproach the Spiritual Master Without DuplicityThis 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 6.7.15? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories