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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 ›
Canto 6 · Chapter 8: The Nārāyaṇa-kavaca Shield
6.8.8-106.8.12

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.8.11

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Viśvarūpasince 6.8.4-6inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

आत्मानं परमं ध्यायेद् ध्येयं षट्‍‌शक्तिभिर्युतम् ।

विद्यातेजस्तपोमूर्तिमिमं मन्त्रमुदाहरेत् ॥ ११ ॥

ātmānaṁ paramaṁ dhyāyed

dhyeyaṁ ṣaṭ-śaktibhir yutam

vidyā-tejas-tapo-mūrtim

imaṁ mantram udāharet

Translation

After finishing this chanting, one should think himself qualitatively one with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who is full in six opulences and is worthy to be meditated upon. Then one should chant the following protective prayer to Lord Nārāyaṇa, the Nārāyaṇa-kavaca.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Meditate Upon the Supreme Before Prayer

  1. 1

    After completing the chanting, one should think of oneself as qualitatively one with the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  2. 2

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead is full in six opulences and is worthy to be meditated upon.

  3. 3

    One should then chant the protective prayer to Lord Nārāyaṇa known as the Nārāyaṇa-kavaca.

How it feels

Offense and dread → Moral reckoning. Heroic power does not guarantee inner freedom.

Chapters 7–10 of Canto 6: Indra, Bṛhaspati and the emergence of Vṛtrāsura. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 8: The Nārāyaṇa-kavaca Shield

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

One should think of Madhusūdana, Tridhāmā, Mādhava, Hṛṣīkeśa, Padmanābha, Janārdana, Dāmodara and Viśveśvara, as well as the Supreme Personality of Godhead Kṛṣṇa Himself. After offering prayers to the Lord’s personal expansions known as the svāṁśa and śaktyāveśa-avatāras, one should pray to the weapons of Lord Nārāyaṇa, such as the Sudarśana, gadā, śaṅkha, khaḍga and bow.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.8
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. ātmānamthe self
  2. paramamthe supreme
  3. dhyāyetone should meditate on
  4. dhyeyamworthy to be meditated on
  5. ṣaṭ-śaktibhiḥthe six opulences
  6. yutampossessed of
  7. vidyālearning
  8. tejaḥinfluence
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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 6.8

    In this verse: “chanting”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 6.8

    In this verse: “protective”

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 can meditation upon the Supreme Personality of Godhead prepare your mind for prayer?

Practice

Before reading the protective prayer, pause briefly to meditate upon Lord Nārāyaṇa as worthy of your attention.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayMeditate Upon the Supreme Before PrayerThis 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 6.8.11? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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