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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
6.9.286.9.31

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 6.9.29-30

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Śukadeva Gosvāmīsince 6.9.28inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

आत्मतुल्यै: षोडशभिर्विना श्रीवत्सकौस्तुभौ ।

पर्युपासितमुन्निद्रशरदम्बुरुहेक्षणम् ॥ २९ ॥

द‍ृष्ट्वा तमवनौ सर्व ईक्षणाह्लादविक्लवा: ।

दण्डवत् पतिता राजञ्छनैरुत्थाय तुष्टुवु: ॥ ३० ॥

ātma-tulyaiḥ ṣoḍaśabhir

vinā śrīvatsa-kaustubhau

paryupāsitam unnidra-

śarad-amburuhekṣaṇam

dṛṣṭvā tam avanau sarva

īkṣaṇāhlāda-viklavāḥ

daṇḍavat patitā rājañ

chanair utthāya tuṣṭuvuḥ

Translation

Surrounding and serving the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Nārāyaṇa, were sixteen personal attendants, decorated with ornaments and appearing exactly like Him but without the mark of Śrīvatsa and the Kaustubha jewel. O King, when all the demigods saw the Supreme Lord in that posture, smiling with eyes like the petals of lotuses grown in autumn, they were overwhelmed with happiness and immediately fell down like rods, offering daṇḍavats. Then they slowly rose and pleased the Lord by offering Him prayers.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord’s Distinctive Form Inspires Devotion

  1. 1

    In Vaikuṇṭhaloka, the Supreme Personality of Godhead has four hands. The Śrīvatsa mark on His chest and the Kaustubha gem are His special distinguishing features.

  2. 2

    The Lord’s personal attendants and other devotees in Vaikuṇṭha have features like His, but lack these two distinctions. Sixteen personal attendants surrounded and served Nārāyaṇa.

  3. 3

    Seeing the smiling Lord, the demigods were overwhelmed with happiness and offered daṇḍavats, falling down like rods. They then slowly rose and pleased Him with prayers.

Key points from the purport
  • In Vaikuṇṭhaloka the Supreme Personality of Godhead has four hands and decorations like the Śrīvatsa mark on His chest and the gem known as Kaustubha.
  • These are special indications of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • The Lord’s personal attendants and other devotees in Vaikuṇṭha have the same features, except for the Śrīvatsa mark and the Kaustubha gem.

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:

Being pleased with the demigods, the Supreme Personality of Godhead advised them to approach Dadhīci to beg him for the bones of his own body. Dadhīci would comply with the request of the demigods, and with the help of his bones Vṛtrāsura could be killed.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.9
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. ātma-tulyaiḥalmost equal to Himself
  2. ṣoḍaśabhiḥby sixteen (servants)
  3. vināwithout
  4. śrīvatsa-kaustubhauthe Śrīvatsa mark and Kaustubha jewel
  5. paryupāsitambeing attended on all sides
  6. unnidrablooming
  7. śaratof the autumn
  8. amburuhalike lotus flowers
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 6.9

    In this verse: “king”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 6.9

    In this verse: “devotees”

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 can I express both happiness and reverence when approaching the Lord?

Practice

Offer respectful obeisances to the Lord today, followed by one heartfelt prayer.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord’s Distinctive Form Inspires DevotionThis 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 6.9.29-30? Get an answer from the verses themselves.