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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
6.9.29-306.9.32

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.9.31

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The demigodssince 6.9.31inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीदेवा ऊचु:

नमस्ते यज्ञवीर्याय वयसे उत ते नम: ।

नमस्ते ह्यस्तचक्राय नम: सुपुरुहूतये ॥ ३१ ॥

śrī-devā ūcuḥ

namas te yajña-vīryāya

vayase uta te namaḥ

namas te hy asta-cakrāya

namaḥ supuru-hūtaye

Translation

The demigods said: O Supreme Personality of Godhead, You are competent to give the results of sacrifice, and You are also the time factor that destroys all such results in due course. You are the one who releases the cakra to kill the demons. O Lord, who possess many varieties of names, we offer our respectful obeisances unto You.

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.

Honor the Lord Beyond Temporary Results

  1. 1

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead is competent to give the results of sacrifice. Those results depend upon Him.

  2. 2

    The Lord is also the time factor that destroys those results in due course. The fruits of sacrifice do not last forever.

  3. 3

    The demigods honor the Lord who releases His cakra to kill demons and who possesses many names. They repeatedly offer Him respectful obeisances.

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:

Finding no other means of protection, the demigods began to worship the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the enjoyer of all the results of sacrifice, who is supreme throughout the entire universe. The demigods all worshiped Him because ultimately no one but Him can protect a living entity from fear and danger.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.9
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-devāḥ ūcuḥthe demigods said
  2. namaḥobeisances
  3. teunto You
  4. yajña-vīryāyaunto the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is able to give the results of sacrifice
  5. vayasewho is the time factor, which ends the results of yajña
  6. utaalthough
  7. teunto You
  8. namaḥobeisances
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

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

Am I giving more attention to temporary results than to honoring the Lord?

Practice

Say one of the Lord’s names with respect today and offer Him your obeisances.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHonor the Lord Beyond Temporary ResultsThis 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.

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