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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
6.8.146.8.16

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.8.15

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

रक्षत्वसौ माध्वनि यज्ञकल्प:

स्वदंष्ट्रयोन्नीतधरो वराह: ।

रामोऽद्रिकूटेष्वथ विप्रवासे

सलक्ष्मणोऽव्याद् भरताग्रजोऽस्मान् ॥ १५ ॥

rakṣatv asau mādhvani yajña-kalpaḥ

sva-daṁṣṭrayonnīta-dharo varāhaḥ

rāmo ’dri-kūṭeṣv atha vipravāse

salakṣmaṇo ’vyād bharatāgrajo ’smān

Translation

The Supreme indestructible Lord is ascertained through the performance of ritualistic sacrifices and is therefore known as Yajñeśvara. In His incarnation as Lord Boar, He raised the planet earth from the water at the bottom of the universe and kept it on His pointed tusks. May that Lord protect me from rogues on the street. May Paraśurāma protect me on the tops of mountains, and may the elder brother of Bharata, Lord Rāmacandra, along with His brother Lakṣmaṇa, protect me in foreign countries.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Seek Protection From the Lord’s Incarnations

  1. 1

    The Supreme indestructible Lord is known as Yajñeśvara because He is ascertained through ritualistic sacrifices. As Lord Boar, He raised the earth on His tusks, and the prayer asks Him for protection from rogues on the street.

  2. 2

    The purport distinguishes three Rāmas: Paraśurāma, Lord Rāmacandra and Lord Balarāma. The prayer for protection on mountain summits addresses Paraśurāma.

  3. 3

    Lord Rāmacandra is the brother of Bharata and Lakṣmaṇa. The prayer asks Him, together with Lakṣmaṇa, for protection in foreign countries.

Key points from the purport
  • One Rāma is Paraśurāma (Jāmadāgnya), another Rāma is Lord Rāmacandra, and a third Rāma is Lord Balarāma.
  • In this verse the words rāmo ’dri-kūṭeṣv atha indicate Lord Paraśurāma.
  • The brother of Bharata Mahārāja and Lakṣmaṇa is Lord Rāmacandra.

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

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 also has to think of the fish incarnation, Vāmana, Kūrma, Nṛsiṁha, Varāha, Paraśurāma, Rāmacandra (the elder brother of Lakṣmaṇa), Nara-Nārāyaṇa, Dattātreya (an empowered incarnation), Kapila, Sanat-kumāra, Hayagrīva, Nāradadeva (the incarnation of a devotee), Dhanvantari, Ṛṣabhadeva, Yajña, Balarāma, Vyāsadeva, Buddhadeva and Keśava. One should also think of Govinda, the master of Vṛndāvana, and one should think of Nārāyaṇa, the master of the spiritual sky.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 6.8
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. rakṣatumay the Lord protect
  2. asauthat
  3. māme
  4. adhvanion the street
  5. yajña-kalpaḥwho is ascertained by performance of ritualistic ceremonies
  6. sva-daṁṣṭrayāby His own tusk
  7. unnītaraising
  8. dharaḥthe planet earth
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”, “protection”

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 remembering these prayers help you turn to the Lord when away from home?

Practice

Read the prayer to Lord Rāmacandra and Lakṣmaṇa once today, asking for Their protection when away from home.

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 todaySeek Protection From the Lord’s IncarnationsThis 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 6.8.15? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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