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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
6.8.386.8.40

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.8.39

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Viśvarūpasince 6.8.35inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तस्योपरि विमानेन गन्धर्वपतिरेकदा ।

ययौ चित्ररथ: स्त्रीभिर्वृतो यत्र द्विजक्षय: ॥ ३९ ॥

tasyopari vimānena

gandharva-patir ekadā

yayau citrarathaḥ strībhir

vṛto yatra dvija-kṣayaḥ

Translation

Surrounded by many beautiful women, Citraratha, the King of Gandharvaloka, was once passing in his airplane over the brāhmaṇa’s body at the spot where the brāhmaṇa had died.

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.

Citraratha Passed Over the Brāhmaṇa’s Body

  1. 1

    Citraratha was the King of Gandharvaloka.

  2. 2

    He was traveling in his airplane, surrounded by many beautiful women.

  3. 3

    His journey took him over the brāhmaṇa’s body, at the place where the brāhmaṇa had died.

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:

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. After explaining this process, Śukadeva Gosvāmī told Mahārāja Parīkṣit how Viśvarūpa, the brother of Vṛtrāsura, described the glories of the Nārāyaṇa-kavaca to Indra.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.8
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tasyahis dead body
  2. upariabove
  3. vimānenaby airplane
  4. gandharva-patiḥthe King of Gandharvaloka, Citraratha
  5. ekadāonce upon a time
  6. yayauwent
  7. citrarathaḥCitraratha
  8. strībhiḥby many beautiful women
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 6.8

    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

Can you describe the scene while keeping the brāhmaṇa’s body at its center?

Practice

Reread the translation and briefly describe where Citraratha was passing.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayCitraratha Passed Over the Brāhmaṇa’s BodyThis 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 6.8.39? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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