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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 15: The Pāṇḍavas Retire Timely
1.15.151.15.17

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.15.16

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Arjunasince 1.15.5inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

यद्दो:षु मा प्रणिहितं गुरुभीष्मकर्ण-

नप्तृत्रिगर्तशल्यसैन्धवबाह्लिकाद्यै: ।

अस्‍त्राण्यमोघमहिमानि निरूपितानि

नोपस्पृशुर्नृहरिदासमिवासुराणि ॥ १६ ॥

yad-doḥṣu mā praṇihitaṁ guru-bhīṣma-karṇa-

naptṛ-trigarta-śalya-saindhava-bāhlikādyaiḥ

astrāṇy amogha-mahimāni nirūpitāni

nopaspṛśur nṛhari-dāsam ivāsurāṇi

Translation

Great generals like Bhīṣma, Droṇa, Karṇa, Bhūriśravā, Suśarmā, Śalya, Jayadratha and Bāhlika all directed their invincible weapons against me. But by His [Lord Kṛṣṇa’s] grace they could not even touch a hair on my head. Similarly, Prahlāda Mahārāja, the supreme devotee of Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva, was unaffected by the weapons the demons used against him.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Protects His Devotees

  1. 1

    Powerful generals directed their invincible weapons against Arjuna, but by Lord Kṛṣṇa’s grace they could not even touch a hair on his head.

  2. 2

    Prahlāda Mahārāja became the object of his father’s envy because he was a pure devotee. By the Lord’s grace, he was saved from his father’s many attempts to kill him.

  3. 3

    The purport connects Arjuna’s protection with Prahlāda’s protection: both were saved by the Lord, despite the dangerous weapons used against them.

Key points from the purport
  • Similarly, Arjuna was also saved by the Lord, although all dangerous weapons were employed by his great opponents like Bhīṣma.
  • Being baffled in his attempt to win Draupadī, Karṇa advised Duryodhana to attack King Drupada, for after defeating him both Arjuna and Draupadī could be arrested.
  • In the Battle of Kurukṣetra he also fought very valiantly, but at the end he was killed by Arjuna.

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

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 15: The Pāṇḍavas Retire Timely

Arjuna grieves over Kṛṣṇa’s departure, and the Pāṇḍavas retire, fixing their minds on His lotus feet.

Back to this verse in chapter 1.15
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. yatunder whose
  2. doḥṣuprotection of arms
  3. mā praṇihitammyself being situated
  4. guruDroṇācārya
  5. bhīṣmaBhīṣma
  6. karṇaKarṇa
  7. naptṛBhūriśravā
  8. trigartaKing Suśarmā
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 1.15

    In this verse: “devotee”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 1.15

    In this verse: “grace”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 1.15

    In this verse: “protection”, “saved”

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 does remembering the Lord’s protection of His devotees deepen your trust in Him?

Practice

Read the translation once more, pausing to remember that Arjuna credits Kṛṣṇa’s grace rather than his own strength.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 1.15's connections

Live this todayThe Lord Protects His DevoteesThis 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.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 1.15.16? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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