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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.
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Canto 6 · Chapter 8: The Nārāyaṇa-kavaca Shield
6.8.206.8.22

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.8.21

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

देवोऽपराह्णे मधुहोग्रधन्वा

सायं त्रिधामावतु माधवो माम् ।

दोषे हृषीकेश उतार्धरात्रे

निशीथ एकोऽवतु पद्मनाभ: ॥ २१ ॥

devo ’parāhṇe madhu-hogradhanvā

sāyaṁ tri-dhāmāvatu mādhavo mām

doṣe hṛṣīkeśa utārdha-rātre

niśītha eko ’vatu padmanābhaḥ

Translation

May Lord Madhusūdana, who carries a bow very fearful for the demons, protect me during the fifth part of the day. In the evening, may Lord Mādhava, appearing as Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Maheśvara, protect me, and in the beginning of night may Lord Hṛṣīkeśa protect me. At the dead of night [in the second and third parts of night] may Lord Padmanābha alone protect me.

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.

Seek Shelter Through Evening and Night

  1. 1

    Lord Madhusūdana carries a bow that is fearful for the demons. The prayer asks His protection during the fifth part of the day.

  2. 2

    In the evening, the prayer seeks protection from Lord Mādhava, appearing as Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Maheśvara.

  3. 3

    Lord Hṛṣīkeśa is asked to protect at the beginning of night. During the second and third parts of night, the prayer asks Lord Padmanābha alone for protection.

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. devaḥthe Lord
  2. aparāhṇein the fifth part of the day
  3. madhu-hānamed Madhusūdana
  4. ugra-dhanvābearing the very fearful bow known as Śārṅga
  5. sāyamthe sixth part of the day
  6. tri-dhāmāmanifesting as the three deities Brahmā, Viṣṇu and Maheśvara
  7. avatumay He protect
  8. mādhavaḥnamed Mādhava
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”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

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

    In this verse: “fearful”

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

Do I remember to seek the Lord’s shelter as my day ends?

Practice

At the beginning of night, offer a brief prayer to Lord Hṛṣīkeśa for protection.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySeek Shelter Through Evening and NightThis 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 6.8.21? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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