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

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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.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 8 · Chapter 3: Gajendra’s Prayers of Surrender
8.3.278.3.29

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.3.28

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The King of the elephants, Gajendrasince 8.3.2inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

नमो नमस्तुभ्यमसह्यवेग-

शक्तित्रयायाखिलधीगुणाय ।

प्रपन्नपालाय दुरन्तशक्तये

कदिन्द्रियाणामनवाप्यवर्त्मने ॥ २८ ॥

namo namas tubhyam asahya-vega-

śakti-trayāyākhila-dhī-guṇāya

prapanna-pālāya duranta-śaktaye

kad-indriyāṇām anavāpya-vartmane

Translation

My Lord, You are the controller of formidable strength in three kinds of energy. You appear as the reservoir of all sense pleasure and the protector of the surrendered souls. You possess unlimited energy, but You are unapproachable by those who are unable to control their senses. I offer my respectful obeisances unto You again and again.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Protects the Surrendered Soul

  1. 1

    Attachment, greed and lust are formidable forces that prevent concentration on the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  2. 2

    When one surrenders to the Lord’s lotus feet, these impediments are withdrawn. The Lord is therefore the protector of the surrendered soul.

  3. 3

    Surrender is necessary for becoming a devotee. The Lord then gives intelligence from within by which one can return home, back to Godhead.

Key points from the purport
  • Attachment, greed and lust are three formidable forces that prevent one from concentrating upon the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • However, when one surrenders unto the lotus feet of the Lord, these impediments are withdrawn, and one can realize the Supreme Personality of Godhead.
  • Therefore the Lord is the protector of the surrendered soul.

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

Helplessness → Surrender and rescue. A mighty animal finally realizes the limits of strength.

Chapters 1–4 of Canto 8: Gajendra's struggle and prayers. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 3: Gajendra’s Prayers of Surrender

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The Lord can observe the activities of our senses, which can work and achieve material results because of His mercy. Although He is the original source of everything, He is untouched by any of His by-products.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.3
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. namaḥI offer my respectful obeisances
  2. namaḥagain I offer my respectful obeisances
  3. tubhyamunto You
  4. asahyaformidable
  5. vegaforces
  6. śakti-trayāyaunto the Supreme Person, who has threefold potencies
  7. akhilaof the universe
  8. dhīfor the intelligence
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

  • Śaraṇāgati · Wholehearted surrender

    Relinquishing ownership while entrusting oneself to the Lord. · Theme in SB 8.3

    In this verse: “surrendered”, “surrenders”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 8.3

    In this verse: “protector”

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 8.3

    In this verse: “attachment”, “lust”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

Which attachment makes it difficult for me to concentrate on the Lord?

Practice

Offer a short prayer surrendering one attachment to the Lord and asking for His guidance from within.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Protects the Surrendered SoulThis 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.

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