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

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Canto 1 · Creation · 19 chapters

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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 8: Prayers by Queen Kuntī and Parīkṣit Saved
1.8.121.8.14

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.8.13

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 1.8.11inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

व्यसनं वीक्ष्य तत्तेषामनन्यविषयात्मनाम् ।

सुदर्शनेन स्वास्त्रेण स्वानां रक्षां व्यधाद्विभु: ॥ १३ ॥

vyasanaṁ vīkṣya tat teṣām

ananya-viṣayātmanām

sudarśanena svāstreṇa

svānāṁ rakṣāṁ vyadhād vibhuḥ

Translation

The almighty Personality of Godhead, Śrī Kṛṣṇa, having observed that a great danger was befalling His unalloyed devotees, who were fully surrendered souls, at once took up His Sudarśana disc to protect them.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Kṛṣṇa Protects His Fully Surrendered Devotees

  1. 1

    The brahmāstra could penetrate even the most protected place and would not miss its target. Seeing the danger, the almighty Personality of Godhead took up His Sudarśana disc.

  2. 2

    Although the Pāṇḍavas were great warriors, they depended completely on Kṛṣṇa’s protection. The Lord responds according to the quality or degree of devotional service rendered.

  3. 3

    Kṛṣṇa protected His devotees even at the risk of breaking His own vow not to take up a weapon. He preferred to remain known as bhakta-vatsala, the lover of His devotee.

Key points from the purport
  • The brahmāstra, the supreme weapon released by Aśvatthāmā, was something similar to the nuclear weapon but with more radiation and heat.
  • Knowing all this, Lord Śrī Kṛṣṇa at once took up His personal weapon to protect His devotees, who did not know anyone other than Kṛṣṇa.
  • When the Lord saw that there was no time for the Pāṇḍavas to counteract the brahmāstra of Aśvatthāmā, He took up His weapon even at the risk of breaking His own vow.

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

Grief → Trust. Violence and bereavement make Kṛṣṇa's protective presence precious.

Chapters 7–9 of Canto 1: Postwar anguish, Kuntī and Bhīṣma. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 8: Prayers by Queen Kuntī and Parīkṣit Saved

Kṛṣṇa protects Parīkṣit, Kuntī prays for undivided attraction to Him, and Yudhiṣṭhira grieves.

Back to this verse in chapter 1.8
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. vyasanamgreat danger
  2. vīkṣyahaving observed
  3. tatthat
  4. teṣāmtheir
  5. ananyano other
  6. viṣayameans
  7. ātmanāmthus inclined
  8. sudarśanenaby the wheel of Śrī Kṛṣṇa
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 1.8

    In this verse: “devotees”, “devotional service”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 1.8

    In this verse: “protect”, “protected”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 1.8

    In this verse: “danger”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can I develop dependence on Kṛṣṇa without becoming proud of my own abilities?

Practice

Before one challenging task today, pause and acknowledge your dependence on Kṛṣṇa.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayKṛṣṇa Protects His Fully Surrendered 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 1.8.13? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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