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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.
6.7.246.7.26

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.7.25

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Brahmāsince 6.7.21inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तद्विश्वरूपं भजताशु विप्रं

तपस्विनं त्वाष्ट्रमथात्मवन्तम् ।

सभाजितोऽर्थान् स विधास्यते वो

यदि क्षमिष्यध्वमुतास्य कर्म ॥ २५ ॥

tad viśvarūpaṁ bhajatāśu vipraṁ

tapasvinaṁ tvāṣṭram athātmavantam

sabhājito ’rthān sa vidhāsyate vo

yadi kṣamiṣyadhvam utāsya karma

Translation

O demigods, I instruct you to approach Viśvarūpa, the son of Tvaṣṭā, and accept him as your guru. He is a pure and very powerful brāhmaṇa undergoing austerity and penances. Pleased by your worship, he will fulfill your desires, provided that you tolerate his being inclined to side with the demons.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Accept Guidance With the Required Tolerance

  1. 1

    Lord Brahmā instructed the demigods to approach Viśvarūpa, the son of Tvaṣṭā, and accept him as their guru.

  2. 2

    Viśvarūpa was a pure and powerful brāhmaṇa engaged in austerity and penances.

  3. 3

    Lord Brahmā said that Viśvarūpa, pleased by their worship, would fulfill their desires. The demigods would need to tolerate his inclination to favor the demons.

Key points from the purport
  • Lord Brahmā advised the demigods to accept the son of Tvaṣṭā as their spiritual master although he was always inclined toward the benefit of the asuras.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

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:

Following Lord Brahmā’s orders, the demigods accepted Viśvarūpa, who was a brāhmaṇa and the son of Tvaṣṭā, as their priest. Then they performed yajñas under the priesthood of Viśvarūpa and were able to conquer the demons.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.7
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tattherefore
  2. viśvarūpamViśvarūpa
  3. bhajatajust worship as guru
  4. āśuimmediately
  5. vipramwho is a perfect brāhmaṇa
  6. tapasvinamundergoing great austerities and penances
  7. tvāṣṭramthe son of Tvaṣṭā
  8. athaas well as
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 6.7

    In this verse: “worship”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 6.7

    In this verse: “favor”

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 the tolerance Lord Brahmā specifically asked of the demigods?

Practice

Write one sentence explaining the condition Lord Brahmā attached to accepting Viśvarūpa.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayAccept Guidance With the Required ToleranceThis 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 6.7.25? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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