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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

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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 5: The Demigods Appeal to the Lord for Protection

8.5.21 8.5.23

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.5.22

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees

Who is speaking and story frame

Speaking:Lord Brahmāsince 8.5.21inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

न यस्य वध्यो न च रक्षणीयो

नोपेक्षणीयादरणीयपक्ष: ।

तथापि सर्गस्थितिसंयमार्थं

धत्ते रज:सत्त्वतमांसि काले ॥ २२ ॥

na yasya vadhyo na ca rakṣaṇīyo

nopekṣaṇīyādaraṇīya-pakṣaḥ

tathāpi sarga-sthiti-saṁyamārthaṁ

dhatte rajaḥ-sattva-tamāṁsi kāle

Translation

For the Supreme Personality of Godhead there is no one to be killed, no one to be protected, no one to be neglected and no one to be worshiped. Nonetheless, for the sake of creation, maintenance and annihilation according to time, He accepts different forms as incarnations either in the mode of goodness, the mode of passion or the mode of ignorance.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Impartial Lord Reciprocates With Devotion

1
The Supreme Personality of Godhead is equal to everyone; He envies no one and is partial to no one. Yet He gives special attention to those who serve Him in devotion.
2
For creation, maintenance and annihilation, He accepts different forms as incarnations. Although He apparently acts in goodness, passion or ignorance, He remains unaffected by these modes.
3
Like a king who rewards or punishes to maintain law and order, the Lord appears according to time, place and purpose. He delivers the pious and reestablishes the principles of religion.

Key points from the purport

This verse explains that the Supreme Personality of Godhead is equal to everyone.
The Lord has nothing to do with anyone’s protection or destruction, but for the creation, maintenance and annihilation of this material world He apparently has to act either in goodness, in passion or in darkness.
As a king sometimes punishes or rewards someone to maintain law and order, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, although having nothing to do with the activities of this material world, sometimes appears as various incarnations according to the time, place and object.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 2

The purport of SB 8.5.22 quotesBG 9.29

This is confirmed by the Lord Himself in Bhagavad-gītā (9.29): na me dveṣyo ’sti na priyaḥ

The purport of SB 8.5.22 quotesBG 4.8

Therefore the Lord says in Bhagavad-gītā (4.8): “To deliver the pious and to annihilate the miscreants, as well as to reestablish the principles of religion, I Myself appear millennium after millennium.”

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

How it feels

Danger and ambition → Divine rescue and surprise. Cooperation, rivalry and revelation alternate rapidly.

Chapters 5–12 of Canto 8: Churning the ocean, poison and nectar. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Chapter 5: The Demigods Appeal to the Lord for Protection

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

This Supreme Personality of Godhead manifested a Vaikuṇṭha planet at the request of Ramādevī. His power and activities are mentioned in the Third Canto.

Read the whole chapter summary Back to this verse in chapter 8.5

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

nanot
yasyaby whom (the Lord)
vadhyaḥanyone is to be killed
nanor
caalso
rakṣaṇīyaḥanyone is to be protected
nanor
upekṣaṇīyato be neglected

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

Īśānukathā · The science of God
Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10
Bhakti · Devotion and loving service
How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 8.5
In this verse: “worshiped”, “devotion”
Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct
Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 8.5
In this verse: “religion”, “principles”
Rakṣā · Divine protection
Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 8.5
In this verse: “protected”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does the Lord’s special attention to devotional service encourage you to serve Him?

Practice

Offer one brief prayer today with the intention of serving the Lord rather than seeking a material reward.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Impartial Lord Reciprocates With DevotionThis 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 8.5.22? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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