1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

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

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 1 · Creation · 19 chapters

12345678910111213141516171819

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
1.8.81.8.10

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 1.8.9

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Uttarāsince 1.8.9inside 1 frame: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at Naimiṣāraṇya

उत्तरोवाच

पाहि पाहि महायोगिन् देवदेव जगत्पते ।

नान्यं त्वदभयं पश्ये यत्र मृत्यु: परस्परम् ॥ ९ ॥

uttarovāca

pāhi pāhi mahā-yogin

deva-deva jagat-pate

nānyaṁ tvad abhayaṁ paśye

yatra mṛtyuḥ parasparam

Translation

Uttarā said: O Lord of lords, Lord of the universe! You are the greatest of mystics. Please protect me, protect me, for there is no one else who can save me from the clutches of death in this world of duality.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Surrender Finds Shelter Beyond Fear

  1. 1

    Uttarā addressed Kṛṣṇa as the Lord of lords, Lord of the universe and greatest mystic. She saw no other shelter from the clutches of death.

  2. 2

    In the material world, everyone falsely tries to become master. In the spiritual world, the Lord is the absolute master and all others are His servants.

  3. 3

    The Lord is the only shelter of fearlessness for the surrendered soul. Freedom from the cruel hands of death requires surrender at His lotus feet.

Key points from the purport
  • This material world is the world of duality, in contrast with the oneness of the absolute realm.
  • In the world of duality everyone is envious of all others, and death is inevitable due to the dual existence of matter and spirit.
  • One cannot save himself from the cruel hands of death in the material world without having surrendered himself at the lotus feet of the Lord.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. uttarā uvācaUttarā said
  2. pāhi pāhiprotect, protect
  3. mahā-yoginthe greatest mystic
  4. deva-devathe worshipable of the worshiped
  5. jagat-pateO Lord of the universe
  6. nanot
  7. anyamanyone else
  8. tvatthan You
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 1.8

    In this verse: “death”, “fearlessness”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

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

    In this verse: “protect”

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 1.8

    In this verse: “surrendered”, “shelter”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Where are you trying to be the master instead of accepting your place as the Lord’s servant?

Practice

Offer a short prayer asking to serve the Lord rather than trying to control everything.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySurrender Finds Shelter Beyond FearThis 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 1.8.9? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories