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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.
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Canto 6 · Chapter 9: Appearance of the Demon Vṛtrāsura
6.9.516.9.53

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.9.52

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Personality of Godheadsince 6.9.47inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

स वा अधिगतो दध्यङ्‌ङश्विभ्यां ब्रह्म निष्कलम् ।

यद्वा अश्वशिरो नाम तयोरमरतां व्यधात् ॥ ५२ ॥

sa vā adhigato dadhyaṅṅ

aśvibhyāṁ brahma niṣkalam

yad vā aśvaśiro nāma

tayor amaratāṁ vyadhāt

Translation

That saintly Dadhyañca, who is also known as Dadhīci, personally assimilated the spiritual science and then delivered it to the Aśvinī-kumāras. It is said that Dadhyañca gave them mantras through the head of a horse. Therefore the mantras are called Aśvaśira. After obtaining the mantras of spiritual science from Dadhīci, the Aśvinī-kumāras became jīvan-mukta, liberated even in this life.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Receive and Faithfully Share Spiritual Knowledge

  1. 1

    Dadhīci had advanced spiritual knowledge as well as knowledge of fruitive activities. The Aśvinī-kumāras approached him and requested instruction in spiritual science.

  2. 2

    Despite Indra’s threat, Dadhīci honored his promise to teach them. He accepted their proposal to impart the knowledge through a horse’s head, so it became known as Aśvaśira.

  3. 3

    Dadhyañca personally assimilated spiritual science before delivering it to the Aśvinī-kumāras. Through receiving it, they became jīvan-mukta, liberated even in this life.

Key points from the purport
  • The Aśvinī-kumāras, who understood Indra’s desires, returned and begged Dadhīci for brahma-vidyā.
  • When the great saint Dadhīci informed them of Indra’s threat, the Aśvinī-kumāras replied, “Let us first cut off your head and replace it with the head of a horse.
  • Therefore, because Dadhīci imparted brahma-vidyā through the mouth of a horse, this brahma-vidyā is also known as Aśvaśira.

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. saḥhe
  2. vācertainly
  3. adhigataḥhaving obtained
  4. dadhyaṅDadhyañca
  5. aśvibhyāmto the two Aśvinī-kumāras
  6. brahmaspiritual knowledge
  7. niṣkalampure
  8. yat vāby which
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 6.9

    In this verse: “knowledge”

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 trying to assimilate spiritual knowledge rather than merely collect information?

Practice

Reread this translation slowly and write one sentence about the value of receiving spiritual instruction.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayReceive and Faithfully Share Spiritual KnowledgeThis 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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