1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 6 · Prescribed Duties for Mankind · 19 chapters

12345678910111213141516171819

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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.
6.7.176.7.19

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.7.18

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

तच्छ्रुत्वैवासुरा: सर्व आश्रित्यौशनसं मतम् ।

देवान् प्रत्युद्यमं चक्रुर्दुर्मदा आततायिन: ॥ १८ ॥

tac chrutvaivāsurāḥ sarva

āśrityauśanasaṁ matam

devān pratyudyamaṁ cakrur

durmadā ātatāyinaḥ

Translation

Hearing of the pitiable condition of King Indra, the demons, following the instructions of their guru, Śukrācārya, equipped themselves with weapons and declared war against the demigods.

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.

The Demons Follow Their Guru’s Instructions

  1. 1

    The demons heard of King Indra’s pitiable condition.

  2. 2

    They followed the instructions of their guru, Śukrācārya.

  3. 3

    Equipping themselves with weapons, they declared war against the demigods.

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. tat śrutvāhearing that news
  2. evaindeed
  3. asurāḥthe demons
  4. sarveall
  5. āśrityataking shelter of
  6. auśanasamof Śukrācārya
  7. matamthe instruction
  8. devānthe demigods
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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 6.7

    In this verse: “hearing”, “heard”

  • 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

How carefully do I consider the instructions that guide my actions?

Practice

Before one action today, pause and identify the instruction you are following.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Demons Follow Their Guru’s InstructionsThis 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 6.7.18? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
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