Live the Bhāgavatam · SB 6.8.20
Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protectionRemember the Lord Throughout the Day
“May Lord Keśava protect me with His club in the first portion of the day, and may Govinda, who is always engaged in playing His flute, protect me in the second portion of the day. May Lord Nārāyaṇa, who is equipped with all potencies, protect me in the third part of the day, and may Lord Viṣṇu, who carries a disc to kill His enemies, protect me in the fourth part of the day.”
What the purport teaches
- In Vedic calculations, day and night each contain thirty ghaṭikās of twenty-four minutes. Each is generally divided into six portions, during which the Lord may be addressed by different names for protection.
- Lord Keśava, the proprietor of Mathurā, is addressed for protection in the first portion of the day. Govinda, the Lord of Vṛndāvana who plays His flute, is addressed in the second.
- Lord Nārāyaṇa, equipped with all potencies, is asked to protect in the third portion. Lord Viṣṇu, carrying His disc, is asked to protect in the fourth.
Try this today
Pause once today and address the Lord by one of the names in this prayer, asking for His protection.
Ask yourself
How could a pause during my day help me remember the Lord?
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.