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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 9: Appearance of the Demon Vṛtrāsura
6.9.96.9.11

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.9.10

Ūti· What drives us to act
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 6.9.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

द्रव्यभूयोवरेणापस्तुरीयं जगृहुर्मलम् ।

तासु बुद्बुदफेनाभ्यां द‍ृष्टं तद्धरति क्षिपन् ॥ १० ॥

dravya-bhūyo-vareṇāpas

turīyaṁ jagṛhur malam

tāsu budbuda-phenābhyāṁ

dṛṣṭaṁ tad dharati kṣipan

Translation

And in return for King Indra’s benediction that water would increase the volume of other substances with which it was mixed, water accepted one fourth of the sinful reactions. Therefore there are bubbles and foam in water. When one collects water, these should be avoided.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Avoid Foam When Collecting Drinking Water

  1. 1

    Water received the benediction of increasing the volume of substances with which it is mixed, such as milk or fruit juice.

  2. 2

    In return, water accepted one fourth of Indra’s sinful reactions. The text identifies foam and bubbles as their visible signs.

  3. 3

    The purport therefore instructs one to avoid foam and bubbles when collecting drinking water.

Key points from the purport
  • If water is mixed with milk, fruit juice or other similar substances, it increases their volume, and no one can understand which has increased.
  • In return for this benediction, water accepted one fourth of Indra’s sinful reactions.
  • Therefore one should avoid foam and bubbles while collecting drinking water.

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 9: Appearance of the Demon Vṛtrāsura

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Since water was also infested with sinful reactions, when bubbles appear in water it cannot be used for any purpose. After Viśvarūpa was killed, his father, Tvaṣṭā, performed a sacrifice to kill King Indra.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.9
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. dravyaother things
  2. bhūyaḥof increasing
  3. vareṇaby the benediction
  4. āpaḥwater
  5. turīyamone fourth
  6. jagṛhuḥaccepted
  7. malamthe sinful reaction
  8. tāsuin the water
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 6.9

    In this verse: “king”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 6.9

    In this verse: “sinful”

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 carefully do I notice the practical instructions given alongside the narrative?

Practice

When collecting drinking water today, avoid the foam and bubbles as instructed.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayAvoid Foam When Collecting Drinking WaterThis 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 6.9.10? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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