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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
  2. 2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
  3. 3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
  4. 4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
  5. 5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
  6. 6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 1 · Chapter 14: The Disappearance of Lord Kṛṣṇa
1.14.371.14.39

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.14.38

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Mahārāja Yudhiṣṭhirasince 1.14.25inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

यद्बाहुदण्डाभ्युदयानुजीविनो

यदुप्रवीरा ह्यकुतोभया मुहु: ।

अधिक्रमन्त्यङ्‌घ्रिभिराहृतां बलात्

सभां सुधर्मां सुरसत्तमोचिताम् ॥ ३८ ॥

yad bāhu-daṇḍābhyudayānujīvino

yadu-pravīrā hy akutobhayā muhuḥ

adhikramanty aṅghribhir āhṛtāṁ balāt

sabhāṁ sudharmāṁ sura-sattamocitām

Translation

The great heroes of the Yadu dynasty, being protected by the arms of Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa, always remain fearless in every respect. And therefore their feet trample over the Sudharmā assembly house, which the best demigods deserved but which was taken away from them.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Remembering the Lord Brings Fearlessness

  1. 1

    The Lord is equal toward all living beings, yet He is especially affectionate toward His pure devotees. His direct servants are protected by Him from fearfulness.

  2. 2

    The Yadu dynasty provided Lord Kṛṣṇa with the best comforts and facilities, including the Sudharmā assembly house. In return, these servants of the Lord were protected and fearless.

  3. 3

    Fearfulness arises when a living being forgets the eternal relationship with the Lord. A liberated soul depends on Him like a small child depending on a father’s mercy.

Key points from the purport
  • Those who are directly servitors of the Lord are protected by the Lord from all fearfulness, and they also enjoy the best of things, even if they are forcibly accumulated.
  • Lord Kṛṣṇa was provided with all kinds of comforts and facilities available within the universe by the members of the Yadu dynasty, and in return such servitors of the Lord were protected and fearless.
  • Thus the members of the Yadu dynasty were fully awake in their service to the Lord, and therefore there was no tiger for them to be afraid of at any time.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 1.14.38 quotesBG 2.20

Since the living being is never to die by his constitution, as stated in Bhagavad-gītā (2.20), then what is the cause of fearfulness?

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

How it feels

Bereavement → Renunciation. The worldly support system recedes and attachment is exposed.

Chapters 13–15 of Canto 1: Dhṛtarāṣṭra departs; Kṛṣṇa disappears; Pāṇḍavas retire. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 14: The Disappearance of Lord Kṛṣṇa

Yudhiṣṭhira observes disturbing omens and questions Arjuna about Kṛṣṇa and their relatives.

Back to this verse in chapter 1.14
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yatwhose
  2. bāhu-daṇḍaarms
  3. abhyudayainfluenced by
  4. anujīvinaḥalways living
  5. yaduthe members of the Yadu dynasty
  6. pravīrāḥgreat heroes
  7. hi akutobhayāḥfearless in every respect
  8. muhuḥconstantly
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 1.14

    In this verse: “fearless”, “fearfulness”

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 1.14

    In this verse: “father’s”, “child”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 1.14

    In this verse: “protected”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How might remembering my relationship with the Lord change the way I face fear?

Practice

When a worry arises today, pause for a moment to remember the Lord’s protection and your relationship of service to Him.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayRemembering the Lord Brings FearlessnessThis verse's lesson: one practice and one question for today

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.

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