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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.
6.7.186.7.20

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.7.19

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

तैर्विसृष्टेषुभिस्तीक्ष्णैर्निर्भिन्नाङ्गोरुबाहव: ।

ब्रह्माणं शरणं जग्मु: सहेन्द्रा नतकन्धरा: ॥ १९ ॥

tair visṛṣṭeṣubhis tīkṣṇair

nirbhinnāṅgoru-bāhavaḥ

brahmāṇaṁ śaraṇaṁ jagmuḥ

sahendrā nata-kandharāḥ

Translation

The demigods’ heads, thighs and arms and the other parts of their bodies were injured by the sharp arrows of the demons. The demigods, headed by Indra, saw no other course than to immediately approach Lord Brahmā with bowed heads for shelter and proper instruction.

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.

Seek Shelter and Instruction Humbly

  1. 1

    The demons’ sharp arrows injured the demigods’ heads, thighs, arms and other parts of their bodies.

  2. 2

    The demigods, headed by Indra, saw no other course than to approach Lord Brahmā immediately.

  3. 3

    They approached with bowed heads, seeking shelter and proper instruction.

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:

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. Indra became most repentant, understanding that because of his opulence he had forgotten to respect his spiritual master.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.7
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. taiḥby them (the demons)
  2. visṛṣṭathrown
  3. iṣubhiḥby the arrows
  4. tīkṣṇaiḥvery sharp
  5. nirbhinnapierced all over
  6. aṅgabodies
  7. uruthighs
  8. bāhavaḥand arms
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

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 6.7

    In this verse: “shelter”

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

When I need help, am I willing to ask humbly for proper instruction?

Practice

Ask humbly for guidance about one difficulty instead of trying to manage it alone.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySeek Shelter and Instruction HumblyThis 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 6.7.19? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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