Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 6.8.15
Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protectionSeek Protection From the Lord’s Incarnations
“The Supreme indestructible Lord is ascertained through the performance of ritualistic sacrifices and is therefore known as Yajñeśvara. In His incarnation as Lord Boar, He raised the planet earth from the water at the bottom of the universe and kept it on His pointed tusks. May that Lord protect me from rogues on the street. May Paraśurāma protect me on the tops of mountains, and may the elder brother of Bharata, Lord Rāmacandra, along with His brother Lakṣmaṇa, protect me in foreign countries.”
What the purport teaches
- The Supreme indestructible Lord is known as Yajñeśvara because He is ascertained through ritualistic sacrifices. As Lord Boar, He raised the earth on His tusks, and the prayer asks Him for protection from rogues on the street.
- The purport distinguishes three Rāmas: Paraśurāma, Lord Rāmacandra and Lord Balarāma. The prayer for protection on mountain summits addresses Paraśurāma.
- Lord Rāmacandra is the brother of Bharata and Lakṣmaṇa. The prayer asks Him, together with Lakṣmaṇa, for protection in foreign countries.
Try this today
Read the prayer to Lord Rāmacandra and Lakṣmaṇa once today, asking for Their protection when away from home.
Ask yourself
How can remembering these prayers help you turn to the Lord when away from home?
Carry the question through the day, then answer it in your own words before sleep.
The study points, practice and question are short summaries drawn from Śrīla Prabhupāda's translation and purport. Read the full purport to go deeper.