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 6 · Prescribed Duties for Mankind · 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 6 · Chapter 8: The Nārāyaṇa-kavaca Shield
6.8.136.8.15

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.8.14

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

दुर्गेष्वटव्याजिमुखादिषु प्रभु:

पायान्नृसिंहोऽसुरयूथपारि: ।

विमुञ्चतो यस्य महाट्टहासं

दिशो विनेदुर्न्यपतंश्च गर्भा: ॥ १४ ॥

durgeṣv aṭavy-āji-mukhādiṣu prabhuḥ

pāyān nṛsiṁho ’sura-yūthapāriḥ

vimuñcato yasya mahāṭṭa-hāsaṁ

diśo vinedur nyapataṁś ca garbhāḥ

Translation

May Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva, who appeared as the enemy of Hiraṇyakaśipu, protect me in all directions. His loud laughing vibrated in all directions and caused the pregnant wives of the asuras to have miscarriages. May that Lord be kind enough to protect me in difficult places like the forest and battlefront.

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.

Pray to Nṛsiṁhadeva in Difficult Places

  1. 1

    The prayer asks Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva, who appeared as Hiraṇyakaśipu’s enemy, to protect one in all directions.

  2. 2

    His loud laughing resounded in every direction and caused the pregnant wives of the asuras to have miscarriages.

  3. 3

    The prayer appeals to His kindness for protection in difficult places, such as the forest and battlefront.

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 must progressively place the syllables of the mantra on the heart, the head, between the two eyebrows, on the śikhā and between the eyes, and then one should chant maḥ astrāya phaṭ and with this mantra protect himself from all directions. Nādevo devam arcayet: one who has not risen to the level of a deva cannot chant this mantra.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.8
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. durgeṣuin places where travel is very difficult
  2. aṭaviin the dense forest
  3. āji-mukha-ādiṣuon the war front and so on
  4. prabhuḥthe Supreme Lord
  5. pāyātmay He protect
  6. nṛsiṁhaḥLord Nṛsiṁhadeva
  7. asura-yūthapaof Hiraṇyakaśipu, the leader of the demons
  8. ariḥthe enemy
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

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

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

    In this verse: “protect”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 6.8

    In this verse: “kindness”

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

When you face difficulty, how might you turn to Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva’s kindness?

Practice

Offer a short prayer to Lord Nṛsiṁhadeva, asking kindly for His protection in difficulty.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 6.8's connections

Live this todayPray to Nṛsiṁhadeva in Difficult PlacesThis 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 6.8.14? 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