1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 8 · Withdrawal of the Cosmic Creations · 24 chapters

123456789101112131415161718192021222324

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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 8 · Chapter 16: Executing the Payo-vrata Process of Worship
8.16.148.16.16

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.16.15

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Aditisince 8.16.11inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

तस्मादीश भजन्त्या मे श्रेयश्चिन्तय सुव्रत ।

हृतश्रियो हृतस्थानान्सपत्नै: पाहि न: प्रभो ॥ १५ ॥

tasmād īśa bhajantyā me

śreyaś cintaya suvrata

hṛta-śriyo hṛta-sthānān

sapatnaiḥ pāhi naḥ prabho

Translation

Therefore, most gentle lord, kindly favor your maidservant. We have now been deprived of our opulence and residence by our competitors, the demons. Kindly give us protection.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

A Humble Appeal for Protection

  1. 1

    Aditi approached Kaśyapa Muni humbly, calling herself his maidservant and asking for his favor.

  2. 2

    The demons had deprived them of their opulence and residence. She plainly asked for protection.

  3. 3

    Her appeal was for the protection of the demigods. The purport explains that this also included Aditi, their mother.

Key points from the purport
  • Aditi, the mother of the demigods, appealed to Kaśyapa Muni to give the demigods protection.
  • When we speak of the demigods, this also includes their mother.

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

Loss and hope → Revelation. A shift in fortune sets up a spiritual test.

Chapters 15–18 of Canto 8: Bali, Aditi and Vāmana's appearance. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 16: Executing the Payo-vrata Process of Worship

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The great sage therefore inquired from his wife about the well-being of the āśrama and asked her why she looked so morose. After Aditi informed Kaśyapa Muni about the āśrama’s well-being, she told him that she was lamenting for the absence of her sons.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.16
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tasmāttherefore
  2. īśaO powerful controller
  3. bhajantyāḥof your servitor
  4. meme
  5. śreyaḥauspiciousness
  6. cintayajust consider
  7. su-vrataO most gentle one
  8. hṛta-śriyaḥbereft of all opulence
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

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 8.16

    In this verse: “kindly”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 8.16

    In this verse: “favor”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 8.16

    In this verse: “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

When I ask for help, do I also remember others who share the difficulty?

Practice

If you need help today, make one clear, respectful request that includes anyone else affected.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayA Humble Appeal for ProtectionThis 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 8.16.15? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories