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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
6.8.27-286.8.30

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 6.8.29

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

गरुडो भगवान् स्तोत्रस्तोभश्छन्दोमय: प्रभु: ।

रक्षत्वशेषकृच्छ्रेभ्यो विष्वक्सेन: स्वनामभि: ॥ २९ ॥

garuḍo bhagavān stotra-

stobhaś chandomayaḥ prabhuḥ

rakṣatv aśeṣa-kṛcchrebhyo

viṣvaksenaḥ sva-nāmabhiḥ

Translation

Lord Garuḍa, the carrier of Lord Viṣṇu, is the most worshipable lord, for he is as powerful as the Supreme Lord Himself. He is the personified Vedas and is worshiped by selected verses. May he protect us from all dangerous conditions, and may Lord Viṣvaksena, the Personality of Godhead, also protect us from all dangers by His holy names.

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.

Protection Through Garuḍa and Holy Names

  1. 1

    Lord Garuḍa, the carrier of Lord Viṣṇu, is most worshipable and as powerful as the Supreme Lord Himself.

  2. 2

    Garuḍa is the personified Vedas and is worshiped by selected verses. The prayer asks him for protection from all dangerous conditions.

  3. 3

    The prayer also asks Lord Viṣvaksena, the Personality of Godhead, to protect us from all dangers by His holy names.

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. garuḍaḥHis Holiness Garuḍa, the carrier of Lord Viṣṇu
  2. bhagavānas powerful as the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  3. stotra-stobhaḥwho is glorified by selected verses and songs
  4. chandaḥ-mayaḥthe personified Vedas
  5. prabhuḥthe lord
  6. rakṣatumay He protect
  7. aśeṣa-kṛcchrebhyaḥfrom unlimited miseries
  8. viṣvaksenaḥLord Viṣvaksena
  9. sva-nāmabhiḥby His holy names
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”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 6.8

    In this verse: “worshipable”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

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

    In this verse: “dangerous”

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 does this prayer deepen my respect for the Lord’s carrier and holy names?

Practice

Read this prayer aloud once, respectfully addressing Garuḍa and Lord Viṣvaksena.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayProtection Through Garuḍa and Holy NamesThis 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 6.8.29? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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