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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 9: Appearance of the Demon Vṛtrāsura
6.9.116.9.13-17

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.9.12

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 6.9.1inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

अथान्वाहार्यपचनादुत्थितो घोरदर्शन: ।

कृतान्त इव लोकानां युगान्तसमये यथा ॥ १२ ॥

athānvāhārya-pacanād

utthito ghora-darśanaḥ

kṛtānta iva lokānāṁ

yugānta-samaye yathā

Translation

Thereafter, from the southern side of the sacrificial fire known as Anvāhārya came a fearful personality who looked like the destroyer of the entire creation at the end of the millennium.

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.

A Fearful Personality Emerges

  1. 1

    A fearful personality arose from the sacrificial fire known as Anvāhārya.

  2. 2

    He appeared from the southern side of that fire.

  3. 3

    His appearance resembled the destroyer of the entire creation at the end of the millennium. The comparison conveys how terrifying he looked.

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:

Instead he accepted the reactions. Later, he distributed these reactions among the land, water, trees and women in general.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.9
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. athathereafter
  2. anvāhārya-pacanātfrom the fire known as Anvāhārya
  3. utthitaḥarisen
  4. ghora-darśanaḥappearing very fearful
  5. kṛtāntaḥpersonified annihilation
  6. ivalike
  7. lokānāmof all the planets
  8. yuga-antaof the end of the millennium
  9. samayeat the time
  10. yathājust 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

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 6.9

    In this verse: “fearful”

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 does the comparison with the destroyer of creation help me understand about his appearance?

Practice

Reread the translation slowly and identify the comparison used to describe the fearful personality.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayA Fearful Personality EmergesThis 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 6.9.12? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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