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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
6.9.13-176.9.19

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.9.18

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

येनावृता इमे लोकास्तपसा त्वाष्ट्रमूर्तिना ।

स वै वृत्र इति प्रोक्त: पाप: परमदारुण: ॥ १८ ॥

yenāvṛtā ime lokās

tapasā tvāṣṭra-mūrtinā

sa vai vṛtra iti proktaḥ

pāpaḥ parama-dāruṇaḥ

Translation

That very fearful demon, who was actually the son of Tvaṣṭā, covered all the planetary systems by dint of austerity. Therefore he was named Vṛtra, or one who covers everything.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Vṛtra Means One Who Covers Everything

  1. 1

    The very fearful demon was the son of Tvaṣṭā.

  2. 2

    By dint of austerity, he covered all the planetary systems.

  3. 3

    He was therefore named Vṛtra, or one who covers everything. The purport cites the Vedas to explain why he was called Vṛtrāsura.

Key points from the purport
  • In the Vedas it is said, sa imāḻ lokān āvṛṇot tad vṛtrasya vṛtratvam: because the demon covered all the planetary systems, his name was Vṛtrāsura.

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:

The trees were also given one fourth of the sinful reactions, and therefore they drip sap, which is prohibited for drinking. Because women accepted one fourth of the sinful reactions, they are untouchable during their menstrual period.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.9
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yenaby whom
  2. āvṛtāḥcovered
  3. imeall these
  4. lokāḥplanets
  5. tapasāby the austerity
  6. tvāṣṭra-mūrtināin the form of the son of Tvaṣṭā
  7. saḥhe
  8. vaiindeed
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

How does Vṛtra’s name describe what he did?

Practice

Write down the name Vṛtra and its meaning: “one who covers everything.”

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayVṛtra Means One Who Covers EverythingThis 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 6.9.18? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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