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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
6.9.226.9.24

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.9.23

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The demigodssince 6.9.21inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

यस्योरुश‍ृङ्गे जगतीं स्वनावं

मनुर्यथाबध्य ततार दुर्गम् ।

स एव नस्त्वाष्ट्रभयाद्‌दुरन्तात्

त्राताश्रितान्वारिचरोऽपि नूनम् ॥ २३ ॥

yasyoru-śṛṅge jagatīṁ sva-nāvaṁ

manur yathābadhya tatāra durgam

sa eva nas tvāṣṭra-bhayād durantāt

trātāśritān vāricaro ’pi nūnam

Translation

The Manu named King Satyavrata formerly saved himself by tying the small boat of the entire world to the horn of the Matsya avatāra, the fish incarnation. By the grace of the Matsya avatāra, Manu saved himself from the great danger of the flood. May that same fish incarnation save us from the great and fearful danger caused by the son of Tvaṣṭā.

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.

Remember the Lord’s Saving Grace

  1. 1

    King Satyavrata, the Manu, tied the small boat of the entire world to the horn of the Matsya avatāra.

  2. 2

    By the grace of this fish incarnation, Manu was saved from the great danger of the flood.

  3. 3

    The demigods prayed that the same fish incarnation would save them from the fearful danger caused by the son of Tvaṣṭā.

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:

While performing the sacrifice to kill Indra, Tvaṣṭā chanted a mantra to increase Indra’s enemies, but because he chanted the mantra wrong, the sacrifice produced an asura named Vṛtrāsura, of whom Indra was the enemy. When Vṛtrāsura was generated from the sacrifice, his fierce features made the whole world afraid, and his personal effulgence diminished even the power of the demigods.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.9
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yasyaof whom
  2. uruvery strong and high
  3. śṛṅgeon the horn
  4. jagatīmin the form of the world
  5. sva-nāvamhis own boat
  6. manuḥManu, King Satyavrata
  7. yathājust as
  8. ābadhyabinding
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

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

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

    In this verse: “fearful”, “danger”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 6.9

    In this verse: “king”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 6.9

    In this verse: “grace”

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 remembering the Lord’s saving grace encourage me to pray?

Practice

Offer a short prayer to the Matsya avatāra, remembering how His grace saved Manu.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 6.9's connections

Live this todayRemember the Lord’s Saving GraceThis 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 6.9.23? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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