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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 7: Lord Śiva Saves the Universe by Drinking Poison
8.7.208.7.22

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 8.7.21

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The prajāpatissince 8.7.21inside 2 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King Parīkṣit

श्रीप्रजापतय ऊचु:

देवदेव महादेव भूतात्मन् भूतभावन ।

त्राहि न: शरणापन्नांस्त्रैलोक्यदहनाद् विषात् ॥ २१ ॥

śrī-prajāpataya ūcuḥ

deva-deva mahā-deva

bhūtātman bhūta-bhāvana

trāhi naḥ śaraṇāpannāṁs

trailokya-dahanād viṣāt

Translation

The prajāpatis said: O greatest of all demigods, Mahādeva, Supersoul of all living entities and cause of their happiness and prosperity, we have come to the shelter of your lotus feet. Now please save us from this fiery poison, which is spreading all over the three worlds.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Protection Through Lord Viṣṇu’s Empowered Representative

  1. 1

    The prajāpatis take shelter of Mahādeva’s lotus feet, asking him to save them from the fiery poison spreading through the three worlds.

  2. 2

    Lord Brahmā creates and Lord Śiva annihilates. Both are śaktyāveśa-avatāras, endowed with special power by Lord Viṣṇu.

  3. 3

    Prayers to Lord Śiva for protection actually indicate Lord Viṣṇu, who is all-pervading in their activities. Thus Lord Śiva can be addressed as having Lord Viṣṇu’s qualities.

Key points from the purport
  • Since Lord Śiva is in charge of annihilation, why should he be approached for protection, which is given by Lord Viṣṇu?
  • Therefore whenever prayers for protection are offered to Lord Śiva, actually Lord Viṣṇu is indicated, for otherwise Lord Śiva is meant for destruction.
  • Therefore he can be addressed as having the qualities of Lord Viṣṇu.

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

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

Further reading

Chapter 7: Lord Śiva Saves the Universe by Drinking Poison

From the chapter summary, the lines nearest this verse:

The prajāpatis, seeing no one else to save them, approached Lord Śiva and offered him prayers full of truth. Lord Śiva is called Āśutoṣa because he is very pleased if one is a devotee.
Read the whole chapter summaryBack to this verse in chapter 8.7
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. śrī-prajāpatayaḥ ūcuḥthe prajāpatis said
  2. deva-devaO Lord Mahādeva, best of the demigods
  3. mahā-devaO great demigod
  4. bhūta-ātmanO life and soul of everyone in this world
  5. bhūta-bhāvanaO the cause of the happiness and flourishing of all of them
  6. trāhideliver
  7. naḥus
  8. śaraṇa-āpannānwho have taken shelter at your lotus feet
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 8.7

    In this verse: “shelter”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 8.7

    In this verse: “protection”

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

How does understanding the source of Lord Śiva’s power deepen your appreciation of this prayer?

Practice

Reread the prayer once, remembering that Lord Viṣṇu is the source of the protection being sought.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayProtection Through Lord Viṣṇu’s Empowered RepresentativeThis 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 8.7.21? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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