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Canto 8 · Withdrawal of the Cosmic Creations · 24 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 8 · Chapter 17: The Supreme Lord Agrees to Become Aditi’s Son
8.17.178.17.19

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.17.18

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Supreme Personality of Godheadsince 8.17.12inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

त्वयार्चितश्चाहमपत्यगुप्तये

पयोव्रतेनानुगुणं समीडित: ।

स्वांशेन पुत्रत्वमुपेत्य ते सुतान्

गोप्तास्मि मारीचतपस्यधिष्ठित: ॥ १८ ॥

tvayārcitaś cāham apatya-guptaye

payo-vratenānuguṇaṁ samīḍitaḥ

svāṁśena putratvam upetya te sutān

goptāsmi mārīca-tapasy adhiṣṭhitaḥ

Translation

You have prayed to Me and properly worshiped Me by performing the great payo-vrata ceremony for the sake of protecting your sons. Because of Kaśyapa Muni’s austerities, I shall agree to become your son and thus protect your other sons.

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 Agrees to Become Her Son

  1. 1

    She has prayed to the Lord and properly worshiped Him through the great payo-vrata ceremony.

  2. 2

    Her purpose in this worship is to protect her sons.

  3. 3

    Because of Kaśyapa Muni’s austerities, the Lord agrees to become her son and protect her other sons.

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 17: The Supreme Lord Agrees to Become Aditi’s Son

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

He was already pleased by Kaśyapa Muni’s austerities, and thus He agreed to become their son and maintain the demigods. After giving His word of honor to this effect, the Lord disappeared.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.17
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tvayāby you
  2. arcitaḥbeing worshiped
  3. caalso
  4. ahamI
  5. apatya-guptayegiving protection to your sons
  6. payaḥ-vratenaby the payo-vrata vow
  7. anuguṇamas far as possible
  8. samīḍitaḥproperly worshiped
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 8.17

    In this verse: “protecting”, “protect”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 8.17

    In this verse: “worshiped”

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 can concern for your loved ones become an occasion for sincere worship?

Practice

Offer one prayer to the Lord for the protection of a loved one.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Agrees to Become Her SonThis 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 8.17.18? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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