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

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Canto 10 · The Summum Bonum · 90 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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Texts 10.6.27-29

Who is speaking and story frame

डाकिन्यो यातुधान्यश्च कुष्माण्डा येऽर्भकग्रहा: ।

भूतप्रेतपिशाचाश्च यक्षरक्षोविनायका: ॥ २७ ॥

कोटरा रेवती ज्येष्ठा पूतना मातृकादय: ।

उन्मादा ये ह्यपस्मारा देहप्राणेन्द्रियद्रुह: ॥ २८ ॥

स्वप्नद‍ृष्टा महोत्पाता वृद्धा बालग्रहाश्च ये ।

सर्वे नश्यन्तु ते विष्णोर्नामग्रहणभीरव: ॥ २९ ॥

ḍākinyo yātudhānyaś ca

kuṣmāṇḍā ye ’rbhaka-grahāḥ

bhūta-preta-piśācāś ca

yakṣa-rakṣo-vināyakāḥ

koṭarā revatī jyeṣṭhā

pūtanā mātṛkādayaḥ

unmādā ye hy apasmārā

deha-prāṇendriya-druhaḥ

svapna-dṛṣṭā mahotpātā

vṛddhā bāla-grahāś ca ye

sarve naśyantu te viṣṇor

nāma-grahaṇa-bhīravaḥ

Translation

The evil witches known as Ḍākinīs, Yātudhānīs and Kuṣmāṇḍas are the greatest enemies of children, and the evil spirits like Bhūtas, Pretas, Piśācas, Yakṣas, Rākṣasas and Vināyakas, as well as witches like Koṭarā, Revatī, Jyeṣṭhā, Pūtanā and Mātṛkā, are always ready to give trouble to the body, the life air and the senses, causing loss of memory, madness and bad dreams. Like the most experienced evil stars, they all create great disturbances, especially for children, but one can vanquish them simply by uttering Lord Viṣṇu’s name, for when Lord Viṣṇu’s name resounds, all of them become afraid and go away.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Remember Viṣṇu, the Real Protector

  1. 1

    Govinda, or Lord Viṣṇu, is one, although He has different names and forms with which to act differently. His forms are manifest to pure, unalloyed devotees.

  2. 2

    If remembering all His names is difficult, one may simply chant, “Lord Viṣṇu, Lord Viṣṇu, Lord Viṣṇu,” and think of Him. Remembering and worshiping Viṣṇu is the highest form of worship.

  3. 3

    Lord Viṣṇu is the real protector, and one should remember Him even while taking medicine. Chanting the Hare Kṛṣṇa mahā-mantra makes constant remembrance easier.

Key points from the purport
  • Although Govinda, or Lord Viṣṇu, is one, He has different names and forms with which to act differently.
  • But if one cannot remember all the names at one time, one may simply chant, “Lord Viṣṇu, Lord Viṣṇu, Lord Viṣṇu,” and always think of Lord Viṣṇu.
  • The Āyurveda-śāstra recommends, auṣadhi cintayet viṣṇum: even while taking medicine, one should remember Viṣṇu, because the medicine is not all and all and Lord Viṣṇu is the real protector.

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

Worry and play → Parental tenderness. The Supreme becomes the beloved child of His devotees.

Chapters 5–11 of Canto 10: Gokula, Yaśodā and the infant Lord. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 6: The Killing of the Demon Pūtanā

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

Meanwhile, Nanda and his associates the cowherd men returned from Mathurā, and when they saw the great dead body of Pūtanā, they were struck with wonder. Everyone was astonished that Vasudeva had foretold this mishap, and they praised Vasudeva for his power of foresight.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 10.6
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. ḍākinyaḥ yātudhānyaḥ ca kuṣmāṇḍāḥwitches and devils, enemies of children
  2. yethose who are
  3. arbhaka-grahāḥlike evil stars for children
  4. bhūtaevil spirits
  5. pretaevil hobgoblins
  6. piśācāḥsimilar bad spirits
  7. caalso
  8. yakṣathe living entities known as Yakṣas
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

  • Vātsalya · Parental affection

    Affection and protective concern for the Lord as a child. · Theme in SB 10.6

    In this verse: “children”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 10.6

    In this verse: “devotees”, “worshiping”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 10.6

    In this verse: “afraid”

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 could remembering Viṣṇu become part of your daily care for yourself?

Practice

Take one quiet minute today to chant “Lord Viṣṇu” and remember Him as your protector.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayRemember Viṣṇu, the Real ProtectorThis 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 10.6.27-29? Get an answer from the verses themselves.