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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 7: Indra Offends His Spiritual Master, Bṛhaspati.
6.7.156.7.17

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.7.16

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

एवं चिन्तयतस्तस्य मघोनो भगवान् गृहात् ।

बृहस्पतिर्गतोऽद‍ृष्टां गतिमध्यात्ममायया ॥ १६ ॥

evaṁ cintayatas tasya

maghono bhagavān gṛhāt

bṛhaspatir gato ’dṛṣṭāṁ

gatim adhyātma-māyayā

Translation

While Indra, the King of the demigods, thought in this way and repented in his own assembly, Bṛhaspati, the most powerful spiritual master, understood his mind. Thus he became invisible to Indra and left home, for Bṛhaspati was spiritually more powerful than King Indra.

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.

Spiritual Power Exceeds Royal Power

  1. 1

    Indra remained in his assembly, seriously reflecting and repenting.

  2. 2

    Bṛhaspati understood Indra’s thoughts.

  3. 3

    Spiritually more powerful than Indra, Bṛhaspati became invisible to him and left home.

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:

Once upon a time, Indra, the King of the demigods, was sitting with his wife Śacīdevī and being praised by various demigods like the Siddhas, Cāraṇas and Gandharvas when Bṛhaspati, the spiritual master of the demigods, entered the assembly. Indra, being too absorbed in material opulence, forgot himself and did not respect Bṛhaspati, who thus became aware of Indra’s pride in his material opulence and immediately disappeared from the assembly to teach him a lesson.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.7
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. evamthus
  2. cintayataḥwhile thinking very seriously
  3. tasyahe
  4. maghonaḥIndra
  5. bhagavānthe most powerful
  6. gṛhātfrom his home
  7. bṛhaspatiḥBṛhaspati
  8. gataḥwent
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 6.7

    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

Do I give spiritual strength the respect I give worldly status and power?

Practice

Pause today to reflect on Bṛhaspati’s spiritual strength being greater than Indra’s royal power.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySpiritual Power Exceeds Royal PowerThis 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.

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