Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 14

Vṛtrāsura Instructs Indra on Providence and Devotion; The Slaying of Vṛtrāsura

Devanagari script

तस्मादकीर्तियशसोर्जयापजययोरपि । सम: स्यात्सुखदु:खाभ्यां मृत्युजीवितयोस्तथा ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

tasmād akīrti-yaśasor jayāpajayayor api samaḥ syāt sukha-duḥkhābhyāṁ mṛtyu-jīvitayos tathā

Translation

Since everything rests upon the Supreme Lord’s will, one should remain equipoised in honor and dishonor, victory and defeat, life and death; and, as their effects appear as happiness and distress, one should stay balanced, free from anxiety.

Synonyms

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Avyaya (अव्यय/Modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात्-इत्यव्ययीभाववत् निपात (ablatival adverb: therefore/from that)

• अकीर्ति-यशसोः: of dishonor and honor
• अकीर्ति-यशसोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अकीर्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + यशस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (यशस्-आधार), षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), द्विवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (of dishonor and honor)

• जय-अपजययोः: of victory and defeat
• जय-अपजययोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जय (प्रातिपदिक) + अपजय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), द्विवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (of victory and defeat)

• अपि: also/even
• अपि: Avyaya (अव्यय/Modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय/अपि-कारक-अव्यय (also/even)

• समः: equal/neutral
• समः: Kartṛ-pradhāna (कर्ता-सम्बन्ध/Predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; विधेय-विशेषण (predicative adjective)

• स्यात्: should be
• स्यात्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative/विधिलिङ्), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• सुख-दुःखाभ्याम्: by pleasure and pain
• सुख-दुःखाभ्याम्: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुख (प्रातिपदिक) + दुःख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), द्विवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (by/with pleasure and pain)

• मृत्यु-जीवितयोः: of death and life
• मृत्यु-जीवितयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मृत्यु (प्रातिपदिक) + जीवित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (जीवित-आधार), षष्ठी (6th/षष्ठी), द्विवचन; द्वन्द्व-समास (of death and life)

• तथा: likewise
• तथा: Avyaya (अव्यय/Modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकार/समुच्चयवाचक-अव्यय (thus/likewise)

Characters & Entities

• Vṛtrāsura
• Indra

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about staying equal in fame and infamy?

This verse teaches that a devotee should remain steady and balanced whether receiving honor or dishonor, seeing both as temporary and not the goal of life.

Why did Vṛtrāsura say this to Indra in Canto 6 Chapter 12?

In the midst of battle, Vṛtrāsura instructs Indra on spiritual steadiness—urging him to act without being shaken by outcomes like victory, defeat, life, or death.

Practical application of equanimity from this Bhagavatam shloka in modern life?

Do your duty sincerely, accept results without excessive elation or despair, and keep your purpose anchored in devotion rather than external success or failure.