> Srimad Bhagavatam - Canto 6
> Sanskrit, word-for-word and original translation of Swami Prabhupâda
> (for the purports one will have to consult the books under the copyright of the BBT)

> Canto 6

> *******

> Chapter Ten: The Battle Between the Demigods and Vrtrâsura

> *******

> TEXT 1

> srî-bâdarâyanir uvâca

> indram evam samâdisya

> bhagavân visva-bhâvanah

> pasyatâm animesânâm

> tatraivântardadhe harih

> srî-bâdarâyanih uvâca--Srî Sukadeva Gosvâmî said; indram--Indra, the heavenly King; evam--thus; samâdisya--after instructing; bhagavân--the Supreme Personality of Godhead; visva-bhâvanah--the original cause of all cosmic manifestations; pasyatâm animesânâm--while the demigods were looking on; tatra--then and there; eva--indeed; antardadhe--disappeared; harih--the Lord.

> TRANSLATION

> Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said: After instructing Indra in this way, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Hari, the cause of the cosmic manifestation, then and there disappeared from the presence of the onlooking demigods.

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> TEXT 2

> tathâbhiyâcito devair

> rsir âtharvano mahân

> modamâna uvâcedam

> prahasann iva bhârata

> tathâ--in that manner; abhiyâcitah--being begged; devaih--by the demigods; rsih--the great saintly person; âtharvanah--Dadhîci, the son of Atharvâ; mahân--the great personality; modamânah--being merry; uvâca--said; idam--this; prahasan--smiling; iva--somewhat; bhârata--O Mahârâja Parîksit.

> TRANSLATION

> O King Pariksit, following the Lord's instructions, the demigods approached Dadhici, the son of Atharva. He was very liberal, and when they begged him to give them his body, he at once partially agreed. However, just to hear religious instructions from them, he smiled and jokingly spoke as follows.

> *******

> TEXT 3

> api vrndârakâ yûyam

> na jânîtha sarîrinâm

> samsthâyâm yas tv abhidroho

> duhsahas cetanâpahah

> api--although; vrndârakâh--O demigods; yûyam--all of you; na jânîtha--do not know; sarîrinâm--of those who have material bodies; samsthâyâm--at the time of death, or while quitting this body; yah--which; tu--then; abhidrohah--severe pain; duhsahah--unbearable; cetana--the consciousness; apahah--which takes away.

> TRANSLATION

> O elevated demigods, at the time of death, severe, unbearable pain takes away the consciousness of all living entities who have accepted material bodies. Don't you know about this pain?

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> TEXT 4

> jijîvisûnâm jîvânâm

> âtmâ prestha ihepsitah

> ka utsaheta tam dâtum

> bhiksamânâya visnave

> jijîvisûnâm--aspiring to remain alive; jîvânâm--of all living entities: âtmâ--the body; presthah--very dear; iha--here; îpsitah--desired; kah--who; utsaheta--can bear; tam--that body; dâtum--to deliver; bhiksamânâya--begging; visnave--even to Lord Visnu.

> TRANSLATION

> In this material world, every living entity is very much addicted to his material body. Struggling to keep his body forever, everyone tries to protect it by all means, even at the sacrifice of all his possessions. Therefore, who would be prepared to deliver his body to anyone, even if it were demanded by Lord Visnu?

> *******

> TEXT 5

> srî-devâ ûcuh

> kim nu tad dustyajam brahman

> pumsâm bhûtânukampinâm

> bhavad-vidhânâm mahatâm

> punya-slokedya-karmanâm

> srî-devâh ûcuh--the demigods said; kim--what; nu--indeed; tat--that; dustyajam--difficult to give up; brahman--O exalted brâhmana; pumsâm--of persons; bhûta-anukampinâm--who are very sympathetic toward the suffering living entities; bhavat-vidhânâm--like Your Lordship; mahatâm--who are very great; punya-sloka-idya-karmanâm--whose pious activities are praised by all great souls.

> TRANSLATION

> The demigods replied: O exalted brahmana, pious persons like you, whose activities are praiseworthy, are very kind and affectionate to people in general. What can't such pious souls give for the benefit of others? They can give everything, including their bodies.

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> TEXT 6

> nûnam svârtha-paro loko

> na veda para-sankatam

> yadi veda na yâceta

> neti nâha yad îsvarah

> nûnam--certainly; sva-artha-parah--interested only in sense gratification in this life or the next; lokah--materialistic people in general; na--not; veda--know; para-sankatam--the pain of others; yadi--if; veda--know; na--not; yâceta--would ask; na--no; iti--thus; na âha--does not say; yat--since; îsvarah--able to give charity.

> TRANSLATION

> Those who are too self-interested beg something from others, not knowing of others' pain. But if the beggar knew the difficulty of the giver, he would not ask for anything. Similarly, he who is able to give charity does not know the beggar's difficulty, for otherwise he would not refuse to give the beggar anything he might want as charity.

> *******

> TEXT 7

> srî-rsir uvâca

> dharmam vah srotu-kâmena

> yûyam me pratyudâhrtâh

> esa vah priyam âtmânam

> tyajantam santyajâmy aham

> srî-rsih uvâca--the great saint Dadhîci said; dharmam--the principles of religion; vah--from you; srotu-kâmena--by the desire to hear; yûyam--you; me--by me; pratyudâhrtâh--replied to the contrary; esah--this; vah--for you; priyam--dear; âtmânam--body; tyajantam--leaving me anyway, today or tomorrow; santyajâmi--give up; aham--I.

> TRANSLATION

> The great sage Dadhici said: Just to hear from you about religious principles, I refused to offer my body at your request. Now, although my body is extremely dear to me, I must give it up for your better purposes since I know that it will leave me today or tomorrow.

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> TEXT 8

> yo 'dhruvenâtmanâ nâthâ

> na dharmam na yasah pumân

> îheta bhûta-dayayâ

> sa socyah sthâvarair api

> yah--anyone who; adhruvena--impermanent; âtmanâ--by the body; nâthâh--O lords; na--not; dharmam--religious principles; na--not; yasah--fame; pumân--a person; îheta--endeavors for; bhûta-dayayâ--by mercy for the living beings; sah--that person; socyah--pitiable; sthâvaraih--by the immobile creatures; api--even.

> TRANSLATION

> O demigods, one who has no compassion for humanity in its suffering and does not sacrifice his impermanent body for the higher causes of religious principles or eternal glory is certainly pitied even by the immovable beings.

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> TEXT 9

> etâvân avyayo dharmah

> punya-slokair upâsitah

> yo bhûta-soka-harsâbhyâm

> âtmâ socati hrsyati

> etâvân--this much; avyayah--imperishable; dharmah--religious principle; punya-slokaih--by famous persons who are celebrated as pious; upâsitah--recognized; yah--which; bhûta--of the living beings; soka--by the distress; harsâbhyâm--and by the happiness; âtmâ--the mind; socati--laments; hrsyati--feels happiness.

> TRANSLATION

> If one is unhappy to see the distress of other living beings and happy to see their happiness, his religious principles are appreciated as imperishable by exalted persons who are considered pious and benevolent.

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> TEXT 10

> aho dainyam aho kastam

> pârakyaih ksana-bhanguraih

> yan nopakuryâd asvârthair

> martyah sva jnâti-vigrahaih

> aho--alas; dainyam--a miserable condition; aho--alas; kastam--simply tribulation; pârakyaih--which after death are eatable by dogs and jackals; ksana-bhanguraih--perishable at any moment; yat--because; na--not; upakuryât--would help; a-sva-arthaih--not meant for self-interest; martyah--a living entity destined to die; sva--with his wealth; jnâti--relatives and friends; vigrahaih--and his body.

> TRANSLATION

> This body, which is eatable by jackals and dogs after death, does not actually do any good for me, the spirit soul. It is usable only for a short time and may perish at any moment. The body and its possessions, its riches and relatives, must all be engaged for the benefit of others, or else they will be sources of tribulation and misery.

> *******

> TEXT 11

> srî-bâdarâyanir uvâca

> evam krta-vyavasito

> dadhyann âtharvanas tanum

> pare bhagavati brahmany

> âtmânam sannayan jahau

> srî-bâdarâyanih uvâca--Srî Sukadeva Gosvâmî said; evam--thus; krta-vyavasitah--making certain of what to do (in giving his body to the demigods); dadhyan--Dadhîci Muni; âtharvanah--the son of Atharvâ; tanum--his body; pare--to the Supreme; bhagavati--Personality of Godhead; brahmani--the Supreme Brahman; âtmânam--himself, the spirit soul; sannayan--offering; jahau--gave up.

> TRANSLATION

> Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said: Dadhici Muni, the son of Atharva, thus resolved to give his body to the service of the demigods. He placed himself, the spirit soul, at the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and in this way gave up his gross material body made of five elements.

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> TEXT 12

> yatâksâsu-mano-buddhis

> tattva-drg dhvasta-bandhanah

> âsthitah paramam yogam

> na deham bubudhe gatam

> yata--controlled; aksa--senses; asu--the life air; manah--the mind; buddhih--intelligence; tattva-drk--one who knows the tattvas, the material and spiritual energies; dhvasta-bandhanah--liberated from bondage; âsthitah--being situated in; paramam--the supreme; yogam--absorption, trance; na--not; deham--the material body; bubudhe--perceived; gatam--left.

> TRANSLATION

> Dadhici Muni controlled his senses, life force, mind and intelligence and became absorbed in trance. Thus he cut all his material bonds. He could not perceive how his material body became separated from his self.

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> TEXT 13-14

> athendro vajram udyamya

> nirmitam visvakarmanâ

> muneh saktibhir utsikto

> bhagavat-tejasânvitah

> vrto deva-ganaih sarvair

> gajendropary asobhata

> stûyamâno muni-ganais

> trailokyam harsayann iva

> atha--thereafter; indrah--the King of heaven; vajram--the thunderbolt; udyamya--firmly taking up; nirmitam--manufactured; visvakarmanâ--by Visvakarmâ; muneh--of the great sage, Dadhîci; saktibhih--by the power; utsiktah--saturated; bhagavat--of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; tejasâ--with spiritual power; anvitah--endowed; vrtah--encircled; deva-ganaih--by the other demigods; sarvaih--all; gajendra--of his elephant carrier; upari--upon the back; asobhata--shone; stûyamânah--being offered prayers; muni-ganaih--by the saintly persons; trai-lokyam--to the three worlds; harsayan--causing pleasure; iva--as it were.

> TRANSLATION

> Thereafter, King Indra very firmly took up the thunderbolt manufactured by Visvakarma from the bones of Dadhici. Charged with the exalted power of Dadhici Muni and enlightened by the power of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Indra rode on the back of his carrier, Airavata, surrounded by all the demigods, while all the great sages offered him praise. Thus he shone very beautifully, pleasing the three worlds as he rode off to kill Vrtrasura.

> *******

> TEXT 15

> vrtram abhyadravac chatrum

> asurânîka-yûthapaih

> paryastam ojasâ râjan

> kmadho rudra ivântakam

> vrtram--Vrtrâsura; abhyadravat--attacked; satrum--the enemy; asura-anika-yûthapaih--by the commanders or captains of the soldiers of the asuras; paryastam--surrounded; ojasâ--with great force; râjan--O King; kruddhah--being angry; rudrah--an incarnation of Lord Siva; iva--like; antakam--Antaka, or Yamarâja.

> TRANSLATION

> My dear King Pariksit, as Rudra, being very angry at Antaka [Yamaraja] had formerly run toward Antaka to kill him, Indra angrily and with great force attacked Vrtrasura, who was surrounded by the leaders of the demoniac armies.

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> TEXT 16

> tatah surânâm asurai

> ranah parama-dârunah

> tretâ-mukhe narmadâyâm

> abhavat prathame yuge

> tatah--thereafter; surânâm--of the demigods; asuraih--with the demons; ranah--a great battle; parama-dârunah--very fearful; tretâ-mukhe--in the beginning of Tretâ-yuga; narmadâyâm--on the bank of the River Narmadâ; abhavat--took place; prathame--in the first; yuge--millennium.

> TRANSLATION

> Thereafter, at the end of Satya-yuga and the beginning of Treta-yuga, a fierce battle took place between the demigods and the demons on the bank of the Narmada.

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> TEXT 17-18

> rudrair vasubhir âdityair

> asvibhyâm pitr-vahnibhih

> marudbhir rbhubhih sâdhyair

> visvedevair marut-patim

> drstvâ vajra-dharam sakram

> rocamânam svayâ sriyâ

> nâmrsyann asurâ râjan

> mrdhe vrtra-purahsarâh

> rudraih--by the Rudras; vasubhih--by the Vasus; âdityaih--by the Âdityas; asvibhyâm--by the Asvinî-kumâras; pitr--by the Pitâs; vahnibhih--and the Vahnis; marudbhih--by the Maruts; rbhubhih--by the Rbhus; sâdhyaih--by the Sâdhyas; visve-devaih--by the Visvadevas; marut-patim--Indra, the heavenly King; drstvâ--seeing; vajra-dharam--bearing the thunderbolt; sakram--another name of Indra; rocamânam--shining; svayâ--by his own; sriyâ--opulence; na--not; amrsyan--tolerated; asurâh--all the demons; râjan--O King; mrdhe--in the fight; vrtra-purahsarâh--headed by Vrtrâsura.

> TRANSLATION

> O King, when all the asuras came onto the battlefield, headed by Vrtrasura, they saw King Indra carrying the thunderbolt and surrounded by the Rudras, Vasus, Adityas, Asvini-kumaras, Pitas, Vahnis, Maruts, Rbhus, Sadhyas and Visvadevas. Surrounded by his company, Indra shone so brightly that his effulgence was intolerable to the demons.

> *******

> TEXT 19-22

> namucih sambaro 'narvâ

> dvimûrdhâ rsabho 'surah

> hayagrîvah sankusirâ

> vipracittir ayomukhah

> pulomâ vrsaparvâ ca

> prahetir hetir utkalah

> daiteyâ dânavâ yaksâ

> raksâmsi ca sa hasrasah

> sumâli-mâli-pramukhâh

> kârtasvara-paricchadâh

> pratisidhyendra-senâgram

> mrtyor api durâsadam

> abhyardayann asambhrântâh

> simha-nâdena durmadâh

> gadâbhih parighair bânaih

> prâsa-mudgara-tomaraih

> namucih--Namuci; sambarah--Sambara; anarvâ--Anarvâ; dvimûrdhâ--Dvimûrdhâ; rsabhah--Rsabha; asurah--Asura; hayagrîvah--Hayagrîva; sankusirâh--Sankusirâ; vipracittih--Vipracitti; ayomukhah--Ayomukha; pulomâ--Pulomâ; vrsaparvâ--Vrsaparvâ; ca--also; prahetih--Praheti; hetih--Heti; utkalah--Utkala; daiteyâh--the Daityas; dânavâh--the Dânavas; yaksâh--the Yaksas; raksâmsi--the Râksasas; ca--and; sahasrasah--by the thousands; sumâli-mâli-pramukhâh--others, headed by Sumâli and Mâli; kârtasvara--of gold; paricchadâh--dressed in ornaments; pratisidhya--keeping back; indra-senâ-agram--the front of Indra's army; mrtyoh--for death; api--even; durâsadam--difficult to approach; abhyardayan--harassed; asambhrântâh--without fear; simha-nâdena--with a sound like a lion; durmadâh--furious; gadâbhih--with clubs; parighaih--with iron-studded bludgeons; bânaih--with arrows; prâsa-mudgara-tomaraih--with barbed missiles, mallets and lances.

> TRANSLATION

> Many hundreds and thousands of demons, demi-demons, Yaksas, Raksasas [man-eaters] and others, headed by Sumali and Mali, resisted the armies of King Indra, which even death personified cannot easily overcome. Among the demons were Namuci, Sambara, Anarva, Dvimurdha, Rsabha, Asura, Hayagriva, Sankusira, Vipracitti, Ayomukha, Puloma, Vrsaparva, Praheti, Heti and Utkala. Roaring tumultuously and fearlessly like lions, these invincible demons, all dressed in golden ornaments, gave pain to the demigods with weapons like clubs, bludgeons, arrows, barbed darts, mallets and lances.

> *******

> TEXT 23

> sûlaih parasvadhaih khadgaih

> sataghnîbhir bhusundibhih

> sarvato 'vâkiran sastrair

> astrais ca vibudharsabhân

> sûlaih--by spears; parasvadhaih--by axes; khadgaih--by swords; sataghnîbhih--by sataghnîs; bhusundibhih--by bhusundis; sarvatah--all around; avâkiran--scattered; sastraih--with weapons; astraih--with arrows; ca--and; vibudha-rsabhân--the chiefs of the demigods.

> TRANSLATION

> Armed with lances, tridents, axes, swords and other weapons like sataghnis and bhusundis, the demons attacked from different directions and scattered all the chiefs of the demigod armies.

> *******

> TEXT 24

> na te 'drsyanta sanchannâh

> sara jâlaih samantatah

> punkhânupunkha-patitair

> jyotîmsîva nabho-ghanaih

> na--not; te--they (the demigods); adrsyanta--were seen; sanchannâh--being completely covered; sara jâlaih--by networks of arrows; samantatah--all around; punkha-anupunkha--one arrow after another; patitaih--falling; jyotîmsi iva--like the stars in the sky; nabhah-ghanaih--by the dense clouds.

> TRANSLATION

> As the stars in the sky cannot be seen when covered by dense clouds, the demigods, being completely covered by networks of arrows falling upon them one after another, could not be seen.

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> TEXT 25

> na te sastrâstra-varsaughâ

> hy âseduh sura-sainikân

> chinnâh siddha-pathe devair

> laghu-hastaih sahasradhâ

> na--not; te--those; sastra-astra-varsa-oghâh--showers of arrows and other weapons; hi--indeed; âseduh--reached; sura-sainikân--the armies of the demigods; chinnâh--cut; siddha-pathe--in the sky; devaih--by the demigods; laghu-hastaih--quick-handed; sahasradhâ--into thousands of pieces.

> TRANSLATION

> The showers of various weapons and arrows released to kill the soldiers of the demigods did not reach them because the demigods, acting quickly, cut the weapons into thousands of pieces in the sky.

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> TEXT 26

> atha ksînâstra-sastraughâ

> giri-srnga-drumopalaih

> abhyavarsan sura-balam

> cicchidus tâms ca pûrvavat

> atha--thereupon; ksîna--being reduced; astra--of the arrows released by mantras; sastra--and weapons; oghâh--the multitudes; giri--of mountains; srnga--with the peaks; druma--with trees; upalaih--and with stones; abhyavarsan--showered; sura-balam--the soldiers of the demigods; cicchiduh--broke to pieces; tân--them; ca--and; pûrva-vat--as before.

> TRANSLATION

> As their weapons and mantras decreased, the demons began showering mountain peaks, trees and stones upon the demigod soldiers, but the demigods were so powerful and expert that they nullified all these weapons by breaking them to pieces in the sky as before.

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> TEXT 27

> tân aksatân svastimato nisâmya

> sastrâstra-pûgair atha vrtra-nâthâh

> drumair drsadbhir vividhâdri-srngair

> aviksatâms tatrasur indra-sainikân

> tân--them (the soldiers of the demigods); aksatân--not injured; svasti-matah--being very healthy; nisâmya--seeing; sastra-astra-pûgaih--by the bunches of weapons and mantras; atha--thereupon; vrtra-nâthâh--the soldiers led by Vrtrâsura; drumaih--by the trees; drsadbhih--by the stones; vividha--various; adri--of mountain s; srngaih--by the peaks; aviksatân--not injured; tatrasuh--became afraid; indra-sainikân--the soldiers of King Indra.

> TRANSLATION

> When the soldiers of the demons, commanded by Vrtrasura, saw that the soldiers of King Indra were quite well, having not been injured at all by their volleys of weapons, not even by the trees, stones and mountain peaks, the demons were very much afraid.

> *******

> TEXT 28

> sarve prayâsâ abhavan vimoghâh

> krtâh krtâ deva-ganesu daityaih

> krsnânukûlesu yathâ mahatsu

> ksudraih prayuktâ ûsatî rûksa-vâcah

> sarve--all; prayâsâh--endeavors; abhavan--were; vimoghâh--futile; krtâh--performed; krtâh--again performed; deva-ganesu--unto the demigods; daityaih--by the demons; krsna-anukûlesu--who were always protected by Krsna; yathâ--just as; mahatsu--unto the Vaisnavas; ksudraih--by insignificant persons; prayuktâh--used; ûsatîh--unfavorable; rûksa--rough; vâcah--words.

> TRANSLATION

> When insignificant persons use rough words to cast false, angry accusations against saintly persons, their fruitless words do not disturb the great personalities. Similarly, all the efforts of the demons against the demigods, who were favorably situated under the protection of Krsna, were futile.

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> TEXT 29

> te sva-prayâsam vitatham nirîksya

> harâv abhaktâ hata-yuddha-darpâh

> palâyanâyâji-mukhe visrjya

> patim manas te dadhur âtta-sârâh

> te--they (the demons); sva-prayâsam--their own endeavors; vitatham--fruitless; nirîksya--seeing; harau abhaktâh--the asuras, those who are not devotees of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; hata--defeated; yuddha-darpâh--their pride in fighting; palâyanâya--for leaving the battlefield; âji-mukhe--in the very beginning of the battle; visrjya--leaving aside; patim--their commander, Vrtrâsura; manah--their minds; te--all of them; dadhuh--gave; âtta-sârâh--whose prowess was taken away.

> TRANSLATION

> The asuras, who are never devotees of Lord Krsna, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, lost their pride in fighting when they found all their endeavors futile. Leaving aside their leader even in the very beginning of the fight, they decided to flee because all their prowess had been taken away by the enemy.

> *******

> TEXT 30

> vrtro 'surâms tân anugân manasvî

> pradhâvatah preksya babhâsa etat

> palâyitam preksya balam ca bhagnam

> bhayena tîvrena vihasya vîrah

> vrtrah--Vrtrâsura, the commander of the demons; asurân--all the demons; tân--them; anugân--his followers; manasvî--the great-minded; pradhâvatah--fleeing; preksya--observing; babhâsa--spoke; etat--this; palâyitam--fleeing; preksya--seeing; balam--army; ca--and; bhagnam--broken; bhayena--out of fear; tîvrena--intense; vihasya--smiling; vîrah--the great hero.

> TRANSLATION

> Seeing his army broken and all the asuras, even those known as great heroes, fleeing the battlefield out of intense fear, Vrtrasura, who was truly a great-minded hero, smiled and spoke the following words.

> *******

> TEXT 31

> kâlopapannâm rucirâm manasvinâm

> jagâda vâcam purusa-pravirah

> he vipracitte namuce puloman

> mayânarvan chambara me srnudhvam

> kâla-upapannâm--suitable to the time and circumstances; rucirâm--very beautiful; manasvinâm--to the great, deep-minded personalities; jagâda--spoke; vâcam--words; purusa-pravîrah--the hero among heroes, Vrtrâsura; he--O; vipracitte--Vipracitti; namuce--O Namuci; puloman--O Pulomâ; maya--O Maya; anarvan--O Anarvâ; sambara--O Sambara; me--from me; srnudhvam--please hear.

> TRANSLATION

> According to his position and the time and circumstances, Vrtrasura, the hero among heroes, spoke words that were much to be appreciated by thoughtful men. He called to the heroes of the demons, "O Vipracitti! O Namuci! O Puloma! O Maya, Anarva and Sambara! Please hear me and do not flee."

> *******

> TEXT 32

> jâtasya mrtyur dhruva eva sarvatah

> pratikriyâ yasya na ceha klptâ

> loko yasas câtha tato yadi hy amum

> ko nâma mrtyum na vrnîta yuktam

> jâtasya--of one who has taken birth (all living beings); mrtyuh--death; dhruvah--inevitable; eva--indeed; sarvatah--everywhere in the universe; pratikriyâ--counteraction; yasya--of which; na--not; ca--also; iha--in this material world; klptâ--devised; lokah--promotion to higher planets; yasah--reputation and glory; ca--and; atha--then; tatah--from that; yadi--if; hi--indeed; amum--that; kah--who; nâma--indeed; mrtyum--death; na--not; vrnîta--would accept; yuktam--suitable.

> TRANSLATION

> Vrtrasura said: All living entities who have taken birth in this material world must die. Surely, no one in this world has found any means to be saved from death. Even providence has not provided a means to escape it. Under the circumstances, death being inevitable, if one can gain promotion to the higher planetary systems and be always celebrated here by dying a suitable death, what man will not accept such a glorious death?

> *******

> TEXT 33

> dvau sammatâv iha mrtyû durâpau

> yad brahma-sandhâranayâ jitâsuh

> kalevaram yoga-rato vijahyâd

> yad agranîr vîra-saye 'nivrttah

> dvau--two; sammatau--approved (by sâstra and great personalities); iha--in this world; mrtyû--deaths; durâpau--extremely rare; yat--which; brahma-sandhâranayâ--with concentration on Brahman, Paramâtmâ or Parabrahma, Krsna; jita-asuh--controlling the mind and senses; kalevaram--the body; yoga-ratah--being engaged in the performance of yoga; vijahyât--one may leave; yat--which; agranih--taking the lead; vîra-saye--on the battlefield; anivrttah--not turning back.

> TRANSLATION

> There are two ways to meet a glorious death, and both are very rare. One is to die after performing mystic yoga, especially bhakti-yoga, by which one can control the mind and living force and die absorbed in thought of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The second is to die on the battlefield, leading the army and never showing one's back. These two kinds of death are recommended in the sastra as glorious.

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