FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.17.38

जज्ञे त्वष्टुर्दक्षिणाग्नौ दानवीं योनिमाश्रित: । वृत्र इत्यभिविख्यातो ज्ञानविज्ञानसंयुत: ॥ ३८ ॥
jajñe tvaṣṭur dakṣiṇāgnau
[jajne tvashtur dakshinaagnau]
dānavīṁ yonim āśritaḥ
[daanaveem yonim aashritah]
vṛtra ity abhivikhyāto
[vritra ity abhivikhyaato]
jñāna-vijñāna-saṁyutaḥ
[jnaana-vijnaana-samyutah]
Word-for-word
jajñe — was born tvaṣṭuḥ — of the brāhmaṇa known as Tvaṣṭā dakṣiṇa-agnau — in the fire sacrifice known as dakṣiṇāgni dānavīm — demoniac yonim — species of life āśritaḥ — taking shelter of vṛtraḥ — Vṛtra iti — thus abhivikhyātaḥ — celebrated jñāna-vijñāna-saṁyutaḥ — fully equipped with transcendental knowledge and practical application of that knowledge in life.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
jajñe tvaṣṭur dakṣiṇāgnau
jajñe
was born
tvaṣṭuḥ
of the brāhmaṇa known as Tvaṣṭā
dakṣiṇa-agnau
in the fire sacrifice known as dakṣiṇāgni
dānavīṁ yonim āśritaḥ
dānavīm
demoniac
yonim
species of life
āśritaḥ
taking shelter of
vṛtra ity abhivikhyāto
vṛtraḥ
Vṛtra
iti
thus
abhivikhyātaḥ
celebrated
jñāna-vijñāna-saṁyutaḥ
jñāna-vijñāna-saṁyutaḥ
fully equipped with transcendental knowledge and practical application of that knowledge in life.
Being cursed by mother Durgā [Bhavānī, the wife of Lord Śiva], that same Citraketu accepted birth in a demoniac species of life. Although still fully equipped with transcendental knowledge and practical application of that knowledge in life, he appeared as a demon at the fire sacrifice performed by Tvaṣṭā, and thus he became famous as Vṛtrāsura.
Purport

The word yoni is generally understood to mean jāti — family, group or species. Although Vṛtrāsura appeared in a family of demons, it is clearly said that his knowledge of spiritual life still existed. Jñāna-vijñāna-saṁyutaḥ: his spiritual knowledge and the practical application of that knowledge in life were not lost. Therefore it is said that even if a devotee falls down for some reason, he is still not lost.

yatra kva vābhadram abhūd amuṣya kiṁ ko vārtha āpto ’bhajatāṁ sva-dharmataḥ

( Bhāg. 1.5.17 )

Once one is advanced in devotional service, his spiritual assets are never lost under any circumstances. Whatever spiritual advancement he has achieved continues. This is confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā. Even if a bhakti-yogī falls, he takes birth in a rich family or family of brāhmaṇas, in which he again starts devotional activities from the point where he left off. Although Vṛtrāsura was known as an asura, or demon, he did not lose his consciousness of Kṛṣṇa or devotional service.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
That same Citraketu accepted birth in a demoniac family, and appeared from the southern fire in the sacrifice performed by Tvaṣṭā. Endowed with scriptural knowledge and realization, he was known as Vṛtrāsura. Yonim means family.
Related values & verses
Related verses
SB 1.5.17
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Cursed by Durgā, Citraketu accepted birth in a demoniac species, still equipped with transcendental knowledge. Spiritual standing survives even demonic embodiment.
Reflection Questions
  • Where do I assume that 'lower' rebirth would erase my knowledge?
  • What does that assumption say about how I locate my knowledge?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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