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

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Canto 6 · Prescribed Duties for Mankind · 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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.3.18

Who is speaking and story frame

भूतानि विष्णो: सुरपूजितानि

दुर्दर्शलिङ्गानि महाद्भ‍ुतानि ।

रक्षन्ति तद्भ‍‌क्तिमत: परेभ्यो

मत्तश्च मर्त्यानथ सर्वतश्च ॥ १८ ॥

bhūtāni viṣṇoḥ sura-pūjitāni

durdarśa-liṅgāni mahādbhutāni

rakṣanti tad-bhaktimataḥ parebhyo

mattaś ca martyān atha sarvataś ca

Translation

The order carriers of Lord Viṣṇu, who are worshiped even by the demigods, possess wonderful bodily features exactly like those of Viṣṇu and are very rarely seen. The Viṣṇudūtas protect the devotees of the Lord from the hands of enemies, from envious persons and even from my jurisdiction, as well as from natural disturbances.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Trust the Lord and Continue Devotional Service

  1. 1

    Yamarāja described the Viṣṇudūtas’ qualities so that his servants would not envy them. Even the demigods worship these rarely seen messengers with respectful obeisances.

  2. 2

    The Viṣṇudūtas are always alert to protect the Lord’s devotees from enemies, natural disturbances and dangerous conditions. Pure devotees fully surrendered to the Lord’s lotus feet may rest assured of His protection.

  3. 3

    Devotees should remain confident in the Lord’s protection and fully engage in devotional service. The purport specifically encourages spreading the teachings of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Key points from the purport
  • Yamarāja warned the Yamadūtas that the Viṣṇudūtas are worshiped with respectful obeisances by the demigods and are always very alert to protect the devotees of the Lord from the hands of enemies, from natural disturbances and from all dangerous conditions in this material world.
  • Padaṁ padaṁ yad vipadāṁ na teṣām: in this material world there are dangers at every step, but they are not meant for devotees who have fully surrendered unto the lotus feet of the Lord.
  • The pure devotees of Lord Viṣṇu may rest assured of the Lord’s protection, and as long as they are in this material world they should fully engage in devotional service by preaching the cult of Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu and Lord Kṛṣṇa, namely the Hare Kṛṣṇa movement of Kṛṣṇa consciousness.

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

Guilt and mortal terror → Mercy and renewed devotion. The holy name opens a path beyond an apparently hopeless death.

Chapters 1–3 of Canto 6: Ajāmila and the Viṣṇudūtas. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 3: Yamarāja Instructs His Messengers

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

By chanting the holy name of the Lord, Ajāmila had met four order carriers of Lord Viṣṇu. They were very beautiful and had quickly come to rescue him.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.3
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. bhūtāniliving entities or servants
  2. viṣṇoḥof Lord Viṣṇu
  3. sura-pūjitāniwho are worshiped by the demigods
  4. durdarśa-liṅgānipossessing forms not easily seen
  5. mahā-adbhutānigreatly wonderful
  6. rakṣantithey protect
  7. tat-bhakti-mataḥthe devotees of the Lord
  8. parebhyaḥfrom others who are inimical
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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 6.3

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

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 6.3

    In this verse: “protect”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 6.3

    In this verse: “dangerous”

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

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Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How can confidence in the Lord’s protection help me continue devotional service when I feel afraid?

Practice

Share one teaching of Lord Kṛṣṇa with someone willing to hear it, as a small act of devotional service.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

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Śrīla Prabhupāda speaks

His recorded lectures on this verse, and the talks where he quotes it.

2 lectures given on it · quoted in 1 more lecture. Recordings and transcripts on prabhupada.io.

Quoted in 1 other lecture

In each of these he quotes this verse while speaking on another verse or subject. "Find the quote" opens the transcript at that spot.

Live this todayTrust the Lord and Continue Devotional ServiceThis 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 6.3.18? Get an answer from the verses themselves.