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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 8: The Nārāyaṇa-kavaca Shield
6.8.416.9.1

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.8.42

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 6.8.41inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

एतां विद्यामधिगतो विश्वरूपाच्छतक्रतु: ।

त्रैलोक्यलक्ष्मीं बुभुजे विनिर्जित्य मृधेऽसुरान् ॥ ४२ ॥

etāṁ vidyām adhigato

viśvarūpāc chatakratuḥ

trailokya-lakṣmīṁ bubhuje

vinirjitya mṛdhe ’surān

Translation

King Indra, who performed one hundred sacrifices, received this prayer of protection from Viśvarūpa. After conquering the demons, he enjoyed all the opulences of the three worlds.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Receive Mantras Through an Authorized Guru

  1. 1

    The mystical mantric armor received from Viśvarūpa acted powerfully. Indra conquered the demons and enjoyed the opulence of the three worlds without impediments.

  2. 2

    Mantras must be received from a bona fide spiritual master to be fruitful. The disciple should surrender, inquire submissively, render service, and satisfy the guru.

  3. 3

    The purport names four bona fide disciplic successions: Brahma, Rudra, Śrī and Kumāra. Receiving mantras through one of these sampradāyas is necessary for successful advancement in spiritual life.

Key points from the purport
  • This mystical mantric armor given by Viśvarūpa to Indra, the King of heaven, acted powerfully, with the effect that Indra was able to conquer the asuras and enjoy the opulence of the three worlds without impediments.
  • One must receive all kinds of mantras from a bona fide spiritual master; otherwise the mantras will not be fruitful.
  • All mantras should be received through the authorized guru, and the disciple must satisfy the guru in all respects, after surrendering at his lotus feet.

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

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 6.8.42 quotesBG 4.34

This is also indicated in Bhagavad-gītā (4.34): “Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master.

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. etāmthis
  2. vidyāmprayer
  3. adhigataḥreceived
  4. viśvarūpātfrom the brāhmaṇa Viśvarūpa
  5. śata-kratuḥIndra, the King of heaven
  6. trailokya-lakṣmīmall the opulence of the three worlds
  7. bubhujeenjoyed
  8. vinirjityaconquering
  9. mṛdhein battle
  10. asurānall the demons
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 6.8

    In this verse: “king”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 6.8

    In this verse: “protection”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 6.8

    In this verse: “surrender”

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 can you approach spiritual learning with more submissive inquiry and willingness to serve?

Practice

Write one sincere question about spiritual life that you would like to ask a bona fide spiritual master.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayReceive Mantras Through an Authorized GuruThis 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.

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