Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.13.11
तयेन्द्र: स्मासहत्तापं निर्वृतिर्नामुमाविशत् ।
ह्रीमन्तं वाच्यतां प्राप्तं सुखयन्त्यपि नो गुणा: ॥ ११ ॥
tayendraḥ smāsahat tāpaṁ
[tayendrah smaasahat taapam]
nirvṛtir nāmum āviśat
[nirvritir naamum aavishat]
hrīmantaṁ vācyatāṁ prāptaṁ
[hreemantam vaachyataam praaptam]
sukhayanty api no guṇāḥ
[sukhayanty api no gunaah]
Word-for-word
tayā
—
by that action
indraḥ
—
King Indra
sma
—
indeed
asahat
—
suffered
tāpam
—
misery
nirvṛtiḥ
—
happiness
na
—
not
amum
—
him
āviśat
—
entered
hrīmantam
—
one who is shameful
vācyatām
—
ill fame
prāptam
—
obtaining
sukhayanti
—
give pleasure
api
—
although
no
—
not
guṇāḥ
—
good qualifications like possessing opulence.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
tayendraḥ smāsahat tāpaṁ
tayā
by that action
nirvṛtir nāmum āviśat
hrīmantaṁ vācyatāṁ prāptaṁ
sukhayanty api no guṇāḥ
indraḥ
King Indra
sma
indeed
asahat
suffered
tāpam
misery
nirvṛtiḥ
happiness
na
not
amum
him
āviśat
entered
hrīmantam
one who is shameful
vācyatām
ill fame
prāptam
obtaining
sukhayanti
give pleasure
api
although
no
not
guṇāḥ
good qualifications like possessing opulence.
Following the advice of the demigods, Indra killed Vṛtrāsura, and he suffered because of this sinful killing. Although the other demigods were happy, he could not derive happiness from the killing of Vṛtrāsura. Indra’s other good qualities, such as tolerance and opulence, could not help him in his grief.
Purport
One cannot be happy by committing sinful acts, even if one is endowed with material opulence. Indra found this to be true. People began to blaspheme him, saying, “This person has killed a brāhmaṇa for the sake of enjoying heavenly material happiness.” Therefore in spite of being King of heaven and enjoying material opulence, Indra was always unhappy because of the accusations of the populace.
— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
Following the advice of the devatās, Indra suffered, and attained no happiness. Good qualities cannot give happiness to a person who has shame and infamy.
Asahat should asahata (he endured). Amum refers to Indra. “Why could a person with qualities like determination not be happy?” Those qualities cannot give happiness to a person who has done a shameful act and is criticized for killing a brāhmaṇa.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Indra suffered while others rejoiced; his good qualities, his patience and his goddess of fortune all departed. The leader can lose what made him a leader at the very moment of his greatest success.
Reflection Questions
- What 'good qualities' are quietly draining from me even as I succeed?
- Where do I need to slow the success in order to keep the soul?
My note
Source: vedabase.io