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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
6.8.256.8.27-28

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.8.26

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

त्वं तिग्मधारासिवरारिसैन्य-

मीशप्रयुक्तो मम छिन्धि छिन्धि ।

चक्षूंषि चर्मञ्छतचन्द्र छादय

द्विषामघोनां हर पापचक्षुषाम् ॥ २६ ॥

tvaṁ tigma-dhārāsi-varāri-sainyam

īśa-prayukto mama chindhi chindhi

cakṣūṁṣi carmañ chata-candra chādaya

dviṣām aghonāṁ hara pāpa-cakṣuṣām

Translation

O king of sharp-edged swords, you are engaged by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Please cut the soldiers of my enemies to pieces. Please cut them to pieces! O shield marked with a hundred brilliant moonlike circles, please cover the eyes of the sinful enemies. Pluck out their sinful eyes.

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.

The Lord Engages His Protective Weapons

  1. 1

    The sharp-edged sword is engaged by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Its power acts under His direction.

  2. 2

    The prayer asks the sword to cut the enemy soldiers to pieces.

  3. 3

    The shield, marked with a hundred brilliant moonlike circles, is asked to cover and remove the sinful enemies’ eyes.

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. tvamyou
  2. tigma-dhāra-asi-varaO best of swords possessing very sharp blades
  3. ari-sainyamthe soldiers of the enemy
  4. īśa-prayuktaḥbeing engaged by the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  5. mamamy
  6. chindhi chindhichop to pieces, chop to pieces
  7. cakṣūṁṣithe eyes
  8. carmanO shield
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 6.8

    In this verse: “king”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 6.8

    In this verse: “sinful”

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

What does the sword’s being engaged by the Lord teach me about dependence on Him?

Practice

Read the prayer once, paying attention to the words “engaged by the Supreme Personality of Godhead.”

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Engages His Protective WeaponsThis 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 6.8.26? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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