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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.9.2

Who is speaking and story frame

स वै बर्हिषि देवेभ्यो भागं प्रत्यक्षमुच्चकै: ।

अददद्यस्य पितरो देवा: सप्रश्रयं नृप ॥ २ ॥

sa vai barhiṣi devebhyo

bhāgaṁ pratyakṣam uccakaiḥ

adadad yasya pitaro

devāḥ sapraśrayaṁ nṛpa

Translation

O Mahārāja Parīkṣit, the demigods were related to Viśvarūpa from his father’s side, and therefore he visibly offered clarified butter in the fire while chanting mantras such as indrāya idaṁ svāhā [“this is meant for King Indra”] and idam agnaye [“this is for the demigod of fire”]. He loudly chanted these mantras and offered each of the demigods his proper share.

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.

Viśvarūpa Offers Each Demigod His Share

  1. 1

    The demigods were related to Viśvarūpa through his father.

  2. 2

    He visibly offered clarified butter into the sacrificial fire while loudly chanting mantras.

  3. 3

    His mantras named the recipients, including Indra and the demigod of fire. He offered each demigod his proper share.

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:

As described in this chapter, Indra, the King of heaven, killed Viśvarūpa, and therefore Viśvarūpa’s father performed a yajña to kill Indra. When Vṛtrāsura appeared from that yajña, the demigods, in fear, sought shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and glorified Him.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.9
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. saḥhe (Viśvarūpa)
  2. vaiindeed
  3. barhiṣiin the sacrificial fire
  4. devebhyaḥunto the particular demigods
  5. bhāgamthe proper share
  6. pratyakṣamvisibly
  7. uccakaiḥby loud chanting of the mantras
  8. adadatoffered
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Manvantara · The change of Manus

    What gives human life its right direction? · Subject 6 of 10

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 6.9

    In this verse: “father’s”, “father”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 6.9

    In this verse: “king”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 6.9

    In this verse: “chanting”

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 details show that Viśvarūpa’s offerings to the demigods were made openly?

Practice

Reread the translation and identify the offering, the spoken mantras and their recipients.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayViśvarūpa Offers Each Demigod His ShareThis 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 6.9.2? Get an answer from the verses themselves.