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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 6.8.18

Who is speaking and story frame

धन्वन्तरिर्भगवान् पात्वपथ्याद्

द्वन्द्वाद् भयाद‍ृषभो निर्जितात्मा ।

यज्ञश्च लोकादवताज्जनान्ताद्

बलो गणात् क्रोधवशादहीन्द्र: ॥ १८ ॥

dhanvantarir bhagavān pātv apathyād

dvandvād bhayād ṛṣabho nirjitātmā

yajñaś ca lokād avatāj janāntād

balo gaṇāt krodha-vaśād ahīndraḥ

Translation

May the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His incarnation as Dhanvantari relieve me from undesirable eatables and protect me from physical illness. May Lord Ṛṣabhadeva, who conquered His inner and outer senses, protect me from fear produced by the duality of heat and cold. May Yajña protect me from defamation and harm from the populace, and may Lord Balarāma as Śeṣa protect me from envious serpents.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Seek the Lord’s Protection Amid Dangers

  1. 1

    Material life brings many dangers, including undesirable food that harms health. One should give up such food and seek the protection of Dhanvantari.

  2. 2

    Lord Ṛṣabhadeva is asked to protect against fear arising from heat and cold, and Yajña against harm from others. Lord Viṣṇu, the Supersoul of all living entities, can save us from disturbances caused by other beings if He wishes.

  3. 3

    Lord Balarāma is the Śeṣa incarnation. He can protect us from angry serpents and envious persons who are ready to attack.

Key points from the purport
  • To live within this material world, one must face many dangers, as described herein.
  • For example, undesirable food poses a danger to health, and therefore one must give up such food.
  • Lord Balarāma is the Śeṣa incarnation, and therefore He can save us from angry serpents or envious persons, who are always ready to attack.

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. dhanvantariḥthe incarnation Dhanvantari, the physician
  2. bhagavānthe Supreme Personality of Godhead
  3. pātumay He protect me
  4. apathyātfrom things injurious to the health, such as meat and intoxicants
  5. dvandvātfrom duality
  6. bhayātfrom fear
  7. ṛṣabhaḥLord Ṛṣabhadeva
  8. nirjita-ātmāwho fully controlled his mind and self
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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

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 6.8

    In this verse: “fear”, “dangers”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

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

    In this verse: “protect”, “protection”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 6.8

    In this verse: “material”

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

Am I avoiding harmful food while also seeking the Lord’s protection?

Practice

At one meal today, leave out a food you know is harmful to your health.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

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Connected stories

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

Live this todaySeek the Lord’s Protection Amid DangersThis 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 6.8.18? Get an answer from the verses themselves.