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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
6.8.196.8.21

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.8.20

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

मां केशवो गदया प्रातरव्याद्

गोविन्द आसङ्गवमात्तवेणु: ।

नारायण: प्राह्ण उदात्तशक्ति-

र्मध्यन्दिने विष्णुररीन्द्रपाणि: ॥ २० ॥

māṁ keśavo gadayā prātar avyād

govinda āsaṅgavam ātta-veṇuḥ

nārāyaṇaḥ prāhṇa udātta-śaktir

madhyan-dine viṣṇur arīndra-pāṇiḥ

Translation

May Lord Keśava protect me with His club in the first portion of the day, and may Govinda, who is always engaged in playing His flute, protect me in the second portion of the day. May Lord Nārāyaṇa, who is equipped with all potencies, protect me in the third part of the day, and may Lord Viṣṇu, who carries a disc to kill His enemies, protect me in the fourth part of the day.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Remember the Lord Throughout the Day

  1. 1

    In Vedic calculations, day and night each contain thirty ghaṭikās of twenty-four minutes. Each is generally divided into six portions, during which the Lord may be addressed by different names for protection.

  2. 2

    Lord Keśava, the proprietor of Mathurā, is addressed for protection in the first portion of the day. Govinda, the Lord of Vṛndāvana who plays His flute, is addressed in the second.

  3. 3

    Lord Nārāyaṇa, equipped with all potencies, is asked to protect in the third portion. Lord Viṣṇu, carrying His disc, is asked to protect in the fourth.

Key points from the purport
  • According to Vedic astronomical calculations, day and night are each divided into thirty ghaṭikās (twenty-four minutes), instead of twelve hours.
  • In each of these six portions of the day and night, the Lord may be addressed for protection according to different names.
  • Lord Keśava, the proprietor of the holy place of Mathurā, is the Lord of the first portion of the day, and Govinda, the Lord of Vṛndāvana, is the master of the second portion.

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 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. māmme
  2. keśavaḥLord Keśava
  3. gadayāby His club
  4. prātaḥin the morning hours
  5. avyātmay He protect
  6. govindaḥLord Govinda
  7. āsaṅgavamduring the second part of the day
  8. ātta-veṇuḥholding His flute
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 could a pause during my day help me remember the Lord?

Practice

Pause once today and address the Lord by one of the names in this prayer, asking for His protection.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayRemember the Lord Throughout the DayThis 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 6.8.20? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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