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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.
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Canto 6 · Chapter 8: The Nārāyaṇa-kavaca Shield
6.8.376.8.39

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.8.38

Nirodha· Winding up
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Viśvarūpasince 6.8.35inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

इमां विद्यां पुरा कश्चित्कौशिको धारयन् द्विज: ।

योगधारणया स्वाङ्गं जहौ स मरुधन्वनि ॥ ३८ ॥

imāṁ vidyāṁ purā kaścit

kauśiko dhārayan dvijaḥ

yoga-dhāraṇayā svāṅgaṁ

jahau sa maru-dhanvani

Translation

O King of heaven, a brāhmaṇa named Kauśika formerly used this armor when he purposely gave up his body in the desert by mystic power.

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.

Kauśika Used the Armor

  1. 1

    A brāhmaṇa named Kauśika formerly used this armor.

  2. 2

    He purposely gave up his body by mystic power.

  3. 3

    He used the armor when giving up his body in the desert.

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 8: The Nārāyaṇa-kavaca Shield

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

One should think of Madhusūdana, Tridhāmā, Mādhava, Hṛṣīkeśa, Padmanābha, Janārdana, Dāmodara and Viśveśvara, as well as the Supreme Personality of Godhead Kṛṣṇa Himself. After offering prayers to the Lord’s personal expansions known as the svāṁśa and śaktyāveśa-avatāras, one should pray to the weapons of Lord Nārāyaṇa, such as the Sudarśana, gadā, śaṅkha, khaḍga and bow.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.8
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. imāmthis
  2. vidyāmprayer
  3. purāformerly
  4. kaścitsomeone
  5. kauśikaḥKauśika
  6. dhārayanusing
  7. dvijaḥa brāhmaṇa
  8. yoga-dhāraṇayāby mystic power
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Nirodha · Returning home, back to Godhead

    What happens when everything here comes to an end? · Subject 8 of 10

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 6.8

    In this verse: “king”

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 6.8

    In this verse: “gave up”

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 stands out to you about Kauśika’s use of the armor at the end of his life?

Practice

Read the translation slowly today, noting when Kauśika used the armor.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKauśika Used the ArmorThis 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 6.8.38? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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