Srimad-Bhagavatam: Canto 6: “Prescribed Duties for Mankind”
by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
Chapter Eight
SB6.8.20
TEXT 20
mam kesavo gadaya pratar avyad
govinda asangavam atta-venuh
narayanah prahna udatta-saktir
madhyan-dine visnur arindra-panih
SYNONYMS
mam—me; kesavah—Lord Kesava; gadaya—by His club; pratah—in the morning hours; avyat—may He protect; govindah—Lord Govinda; asangavam—during the second part of the day; atta-venuh—holding His flute; narayanah—Lord Narayana with four hands; prahnah—during the third part of the day; udatta-saktih—controlling different types of potencies; madhyam-dine—during the fourth part of the day; visnuh—Lord Visnu; arindra-panih—bearing the disc in His hand to kill the enemies.
TRANSLATION
May Lord Kesava protect me with His club in the first portion of the day, and may Govinda, who is always engaged in playing His flute, protect me in the second portion of the day. May Lord Narayana, who is equipped with all potencies, protect me in the third part of the day, and may Lord Visnu, who carries a disc to kill His enemies, protect me in the fourth part of the day.
PURPORT
According to Vedic astronomical calculations, day and night are each divided into thirty ghatikas (twenty-four minutes), instead of twelve hours. Generally, each day and each night is divided into six parts consisting of five ghatikas. In each of these six portions of the day and night, the Lord may be addressed for protection according to different names. Lord Kesava, the proprietor of the holy place of Mathura, is the Lord of the first portion of the day, and Govinda, the Lord of Vrndavana. is the master of the second portion. SB6.8.21 TEXT 21 devo ’parahne madhu-hogradhanva sayam tri-dhamavatu madhavo mam dose hrsikesa utardha-ratre nisitha eko ’vatu padmanabhah SYNONYMS devah—the Lord; aparahne—in the fifth part of the day; madhu-ha—named Madhusudana; ugra-dhanva—bearing the very fearful bow known as Sarnga; sayam—the sixth part of the day; tri-dhama—manifesting as the three deities Brahma, Visnu and Mahesvara; avatu—may He protect; madhavah—named Madhava; mam—me; dose—during the first portion of the night; hrsikesah—Lord Hrsikesa; uta—also; ardha-ratre—during the second part of the night; nisithe—during the third part of the night; ekah—alone; avatu—may He protect; padmanabhah—Lord Padmanabha. TRANSLATION May Lord Madhusudana, who carries a bow very fearful for the demons, protect me during the fifth part of the day. In the evening, may Lord Madhava, appearing as Brahma, Visnu and Mahesvara, protect me, and in the beginning of night may Lord Hrsikesa protect me. At the dead of night [in the second and third parts of night] may Lord Padmanabha alone protect me. SB6.8.22 TEXT 22 srivatsa-dhamapara-ratra isah pratyusa iso ’si-dharo janardanah damodaro ’vyad anusandhyam prabhate visvesvaro bhagavan kala-murtih SYNONYMS srivatsa-dhama—the Lord, on whose chest the mark of Srivatsa is resting; apara-ratre—in the fourth part of the night; isah—the Supreme Lord; pratyuse—in the end of the night; isah—the Supreme Lord; asi-dharah—carrying a sword in the hand; janardanah—Lord Janardana; damodarah—Lord Damodara; avyat—may He protect; anusandhyam—during each junction or twilight; prabhate—in the early morning (the sixth part of the night); visva-isvarah—the Lord of the whole universe; bhagavan—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; kala-murtih—the personification of time. TRANSLATION May the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who bears the Srivatsa on His chest, protect me after midnight until the sky becomes pinkish. May Lord Janardana, who carries a sword in His hand, protect me at the end of night [during the last four ghatikas of night]. May Lord Damodara protect me in the early morning, and may Lord Visvesvara protect me during the junctions of day and night. SB6.8.23 TEXT 23 cakram yugantanala-tigma-nemi bhramat samantad bhagavat-prayuktam dandagdhi dandagdhy ari-sainyam asu kaksam yatha vata-sakho hutasah SYNONYMS cakram—the disc of the Lord; yuga-anta—at the end of the millennium; anala—like the fire of devastation; tigma-nemi—with a sharp rim; bhramat—wandering; samantat—on all sides; bhagavat-prayuktam—being engaged by the Lord; dandagdhi dandagdhi—please burn completely, please burn completely; ari-sainyam—the army of our enemies; asu—immediately; kaksam—dry grass; yatha—like; vata-sakhah—the friend of the wind; hutasah—blazing fire. TRANSLATION Set into motion by the Supreme Personality of Godhead and wandering in all the four directions, the disc of the Supreme Lord has sharp edges as destructive as the fire of devastation at the end of the millennium. As a blazing fire burns dry grass to ashes with the assistance of the breeze, may that Sudarsana cakra burn our enemies to ashes. SB6.8.24 TEXT 24 gade ’sani-sparsana-visphulinge nispindhi nispindhy ajita-priyasi kusmanda-vainayaka-yaksa-rakso- bhuta-grahams curnaya curnayarin SYNONYMS gade—O club in the hands of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; asani—like thunderbolts; sparsana—whose touch; visphulinge—giving off sparks of fire; nispindhi nispindhi—pound to pieces, pound to pieces; ajita-priya—very dear to the Supreme Personality of Godhead; asi—you are; kusmanda—imps named Kusmandas; vainayaka—ghosts named Vainayakas; yaksa—ghosts named Yaksas; raksah—ghosts named Raksasas; bhuta—ghosts named Bhutas; grahan—and evil demons named Grahas; curnaya—pulverize; curnaya—pulverize; arin—my enemies. TRANSLATION O club in the hand of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, you produce sparks of fire as powerful as thunderbolts, and you are extremely dear to the Lord. I am also His servant. Therefore kindly help me pound to pieces the evil living beings known as Kusmandas, Vainayakas, Yaksas, Raksasas, Bhutas and Grahas. Please pulverize them. SB6.8.25 TEXT 25 tvam yatudhana-pramatha-preta-matr- pisaca-vipragraha-ghora-drstin darendra vidravaya krsna-purito bhima-svano ’rer hrdayani kampayan SYNONYMS tvam—you; yatudhana—Raksasas; pramatha—Pramathas; preta—Pretas; matr—Matas; pisaca—Pisacas; vipra-graha—brahmana ghosts; ghora-drstin—who have very fearful eyes; darendra—O Pancajanya, the conchshell in the hands of the Lord; vidravaya—drive away; krsna-puritah—being filled with air from the mouth of Krsna; bhima-svanah—sounding extremely fearful; areh—of the enemy; hrdayani—the cores of the hearts; kampayan—causing to tremble. TRANSLATION O best of conchshells, O Pancajanya in the hands of the Lord, you are always filled with the breath of Lord Krsna. Therefore you create a fearful sound vibration that causes trembling in the hearts of enemies like the Raksasas, pramatha ghosts, Pretas, Matas, Pisacas and brahmana ghosts with fearful eyes. SB6.8.26 TEXT 26 tvam tigma-dharasi-varari-sainyam isa-prayukto mama chindhi chindhi caksumsi carman chata-candra chadaya dvisam aghonam hara papa-caksusam SYNONYMS tvam—you; tigma-dhara-asi-vara—O best of swords possessing very sharp blades; ari-sainyam—the soldiers of the enemy; isa-prayuktah—being engaged by the Supreme Personality of Godhead; mama—my; chindhi chindhi—chop to pieces, chop to pieces; caksumsi—the eyes; carman—O shield; sata-candra—possessing brilliant circles like a hundred moons; chadaya—please cover; dvisam—of those who are envious of me; aghonam—who are completely sinful; hara—please take away; papa-caksusam—of those whose eyes are very sinful. TRANSLATION O king of sharp-edged swords, you are engaged by the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Please cut the soldiers of my enemies to pieces. Please cut them to pieces! O shield marked with a hundred brilliant moonlike circles, please cover the eyes of the sinful enemies. Pluck out their sinful eyes. SB6.8.27-28 TEXTS 27–28 yan no bhayam grahebhyo ’bhut ketubhyo nrbhya eva ca sarisrpebhyo damstribhyo bhutebhyo ’mhobhya eva ca sarvany etani bhagavan- nama-rupanukirtanat prayantu sanksayam sadyo ye nah sreyah-pratipakah SYNONYMS yat—which; nah—our; bhayam—fear; grahebhyah—from the Graha demons; abhut—was; ketubhyah—from meteors, or falling stars; nrbhyah—from envious human beings; eva ca—also; sarisrpebhyah—from snakes or scorpions; damstribhyah—from animals with fierce teeth like tigers, wolves and boars; bhutebhyah—from ghosts or the material elements (earth, water, fire, etc.); amhobhyah—from sinful activities; eva ca—as well as; sarvani etani—all these; bhagavat-nama-rupa-anukirtanat—by glorifying the transcendental form, name, attributes and paraphernalia of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; prayantu—let them go; sanksayam—to complete destruction; sadyah—immediately; ye—which; nah—our; sreyah-pratipakah—hindrances to well-being. TRANSLATION May the glorification of the transcendental name, form, qualities and paraphernalia of the Supreme Personality of Godhead protect us from the influence of bad planets, meteors, envious human beings, serpents, scorpions, and animals like tigers and wolves. May it protect us from ghosts and the material elements like earth, water, fire and air, and may it also protect us from lightning and our past sins. We are always afraid of these hindrances to our auspicious life. Therefore, may they all be completely destroyed by the chanting of the Hare Krsna maha-mantra. SB6.8.29 TEXT 29 garudo bhagavan stotra- stobhas chandomayah prabhuh raksatv asesa-krcchrebhyo visvaksenah sva-namabhih SYNONYMS garudah—His Holiness Garuda, the carrier of Lord Visnu; bhagavan—as powerful as the Supreme Personality of Godhead; stotra-stobhah—who is glorified by selected verses and songs; chandah-mayah—the personified Vedas; prabhuh—the lord; raksatu—may He protect; asesa-krcchrebhyah—from unlimited miseries; visvaksenah—Lord Visvaksena; sva-namabhih—by His holy names. TRANSLATION Lord Garuda, the carrier of Lord Visnu, is the most worshipable lord, for he is as powerful as the Supreme Lord Himself. He is the personified Vedas and is worshiped by selected verses. May he protect us from all dangerous conditions, and may Lord Visvaksena, the Personality of Godhead, also protect us from all dangers by His holy names. SB6.8.30 TEXT 30 sarvapadbhyo harer nama- rupa-yanayudhani nah buddhindriya-manah-pranan pantu parsada-bhusanah SYNONYMS sarva-apadbhyah—from all kinds of danger; hareh—of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; nama—the holy name; rupa—the transcendental form; yana—the carriers; ayudhani—and all the weapons; nah—our; buddhi—intelligence; indriya—senses; manah—mind; pranan—life air; pantu—may they protect and maintain; parsada-bhusanah—the decorations who are personal associates. TRANSLATION May the Supreme Personality of Godhead’s holy names, His transcendental forms, His carriers and all the weapons decorating Him as personal associates protect our intelligence, senses, mind and life air from all dangers. PURPORT There are various associates of the transcendental Personality of Godhead, and His weapons and carrier are among them. In the spiritual world, nothing is material. The sword, bow, club, disc and everything decorating the personal body of the Lord are spiritual living force. Therefore the Lord is called advaya jnana, indicating that there is no difference between Him and His names, forms, qualities, weapons and so on. Anything pertaining to Him is in the same category of spiritual existence. They are all engaged in the service of the Lord in varieties of spiritual forms. SB6.8.31 TEXT 31 yatha hi bhagavan eva vastutah sad asac ca yat satyenanena nah sarve yantu nasam upadravah SYNONYMS yatha—just as; hi—indeed; bhagavan—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; eva—undoubtedly; vastutah—at the ultimate issue; sat—manifested; asat—unmanifested; ca—and; yat—whatever; satyena—by the truth; anena—this; nah—our; sarve—all; yantu—let them go; nasam—to annihilation; upadravah—disturbances. TRANSLATION The subtle and gross cosmic manifestation is material, but nevertheless it is nondifferent from the Supreme Personality of Godhead because He is ultimately the cause of all causes. Cause and effect are factually one because the cause is present in the effect. Therefore the Absolute Truth, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, can destroy all our dangers by any of His potent parts. SB6.8.32-33 TEXTS 32–33 yathaikatmyanubhavanam vikalpa-rahitah svayam bhusanayudha-lingakhya dhatte saktih sva-mayaya tenaiva satya-manena sarva-jno bhagavan harih patu sarvaih svarupair nah sada sarvatra sarva-gah SYNONYMS yatha—just as; aikatmya—in terms of oneness manifested in varieties; anubhavanam—of those thinking; vikalpa-rahitah—the absence of difference; svayam—Himself; bhusana—decorations; ayudha—weapons; linga-akhyah—characteristics and different names; dhatte—possesses; saktih—potencies like wealth, influence, power, knowledge, beauty and renunciation; sva-mayaya—by expanding His spiritual energy; tena eva—by that; satya-manena—true understanding; sarva-jnah—omniscient; bhagavan—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; harih—who can take away all the illusion of the living entities; patu—may He protect; sarvaih—with all; sva-rupaih—His forms; nah—us; sada—always; sarvatra—everywhere; sarva-gah—who is all-pervasive. TRANSLATION The Supreme Personality of Godhead, the living entities, the material energy, the spiritual energy and the entire creation are all individual substances. In the ultimate analysis, however, together they constitute the supreme one, the Personality of Godhead. Therefore those who are advanced in spiritual knowledge see unity in diversity. For such advanced persons, the Lord’s bodily decorations, His name, His fame, His attributes and forms and the weapons in His hand are manifestations of the strength of His potency. According to their elevated spiritual understanding, the omniscient Lord, who manifests various forms, is present everywhere. May He always protect us everywhere from all calamities. PURPORT A person highly elevated in spiritual knowledge knows that nothing exists but the Supreme Personality of Godhead. This is also confirmed in Bhagavad-gita (9.4) where Lord Krsna says, maya tatam idam sarvam, indicating that everything we see is an expansion of His energy. This is confirmed in the Visnu Purana (1.22.52): ekadesa-sthitasyagner As a fire, although existing in one place, can expand its light and heat everywhere, so the omnipotent Lord, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, although situated in His spiritual abode, expands Himself everywhere, in both the material and spiritual worlds, by His various energies. Since both cause and effect are the Supreme Lord, there is no difference between cause and effect. Consequently the ornaments and weapons of the Lord, being expansions of His spiritual energy, are not different from Him. There is no difference between the Lord and His variously presented energies. This is also confirmed in the Padma Purana: nama cintamanih krsnas The holy name of the Lord is fully identical with the Lord, not partially. The word purna means “complete.” The Lord is omnipotent and omniscient, and similarly, His name, form, qualities, paraphernalia and everything pertaining to Him are complete, pure, eternal and free from material contamination. The prayer to the ornaments and carriers of the Lord is not false, for they are as good as the Lord. Since the Lord is all-pervasive, He exists in everything, and everything exists in Him. Therefore even worship of the Lord’s weapons or ornaments has the same potency as worship of the Lord. Mayavadis refuse to accept the form of the Lord, or they say that the form of the Lord is maya, or false, but one should note very carefully that this is not acceptable. Although the Lord’s original form and His impersonal expansion are one, the Lord maintains His form, qualities and abode eternally. Therefore this prayer says, patu sarvaih svarupair nah sada sarvatra sama-gah: “May the Lord, who is all-pervasive in His various forms, protect us everywhere.” The Lord is always present everywhere by His name, form, qualities, attributes and paraphernalia, and they all have equal power to protect the devotees. Srila Madhvacarya explains this as follows: eka eva paro visnur SB6.8.34 TEXT 34 vidiksu diksurdhvam adhah samantad antar bahir bhagavan narasimhah prahapayal loka-bhayam svanena sva-tejasa grasta-samasta-tejah SYNONYMS vidiksu—in all corners; diksu—in all directions (east, west, north and south); urdhvam—above; adhah—below; samantat—on all sides; antah—internally; bahih—externally; bhagavan—the Supreme Personality of Godhead; narasimhah—in the form of Nrsimhadeva (half-lion and half-man); prahapayan—completely destroying; loka-bhayam—fear created by animals, poison, weapons, water, air, fire and so on; svanena—by His roar or the vibration of His name by His devotee Prahlada Maharaja; sva-tejasa—by His personal effulgence; grasta—covered; samasta—all other; tejah—influences. TRANSLATION Prahlada Maharaja loudly chanted the holy name of Lord Nrsimhadeva. May Lord Nrsimhadeva, roaring for His devotee Prahlada Maharaja, protect us from all fear of dangers created by stalwart leaders in all directions through poison, weapons, water, fire, air and so on. May the Lord cover their influence by His own transcendental influence. May Nrsimhadeva protect us in all directions and in all corners, above, below, within and without. SB6.8.35 TEXT 35 maghavann idam akhyatam varma narayanatmakam vijesyase ’njasa yena damsito ’sura-yuthapan SYNONYMS maghavan—O King Indra; idam—this; akhyatam—described; varma—mystic armor; narayana-atmakam—related to Narayana; vijesyase—you will conquer; anjasa—very easily; yena—by which; damsitah—being protected; asura-yuthapan—the chief leaders of the demons. TRANSLATION Visvarupa continued: O Indra, this mystic armor related to Lord Narayana has been described by me to you. By putting on this protective covering, you will certainly be able to conquer the leaders of the demons. SB6.8.36 TEXT 36 etad dharayamanas tu yam yam pasyati caksusa pada va samsprset sadyah sadhvasat sa vimucyate SYNONYMS etat—this; dharayamanah—a person employing; tu—but; yam yam—whomever; pasyati—he sees; caksusa—by his eyes; pada—by his feet; va—or; samsprset—may touch; sadyah—immediately; sadhvasat—from all fear; sah—he; vimucyate—is freed. TRANSLATION If one employs this armor, whomever he sees with his eyes or touches with his feet is immediately freed from all the above-mentioned dangers. SB6.8.37 TEXT 37 na kutascid bhayam tasya vidyam dharayato bhavet raja-dasyu-grahadibhyo vyadhy-adibhyas ca karhicit SYNONYMS na—not; kutascit—from anywhere; bhayam—fear; tasya—of him; vidyam—this mystical prayer; dharayatah—employing; bhavet—may appear; raja—from the government; dasyu—from rogues and thieves; graha-adibhyah—from demons and so on; vyadhi-adibhyah—from diseases and so on; ca—also; karhicit—at any time. TRANSLATION This prayer, Narayana-kavaca, constitutes subtle knowledge transcendentally connected with Narayana. One who employs this prayer is never disturbed or put in danger by the government, by plunderers, by evil demons or by any type of disease. SB6.8.38 TEXT 38 imam vidyam pura kascit kausiko dharayan dvijah yoga-dharanaya svangam jahau sa maru-dhanvani SYNONYMS imam—this; vidyam—prayer; pura—formerly; kascit—someone; kausikah—Kausika; dharayan—using; dvijah—a brahmana; yoga-dharanaya—by mystic power; sva-angam—his own body; jahau—gave up; sah—he; maru-dhanvani—in the desert. TRANSLATION O King of heaven, a brahmana named Kausika formerly used this armor when he purposely gave up his body in the desert by mystic power. SB6.8.39 TEXT 39 tasyopari vimanena gandharva-patir ekada yayau citrarathah stribhir vrto yatra dvija-ksayah SYNONYMS tasya—his dead body; upari—above; vimanena—by airplane; gandharva-patih—the King of Gandharvaloka, Citraratha; ekada—once upon a time; yayau—went; citrarathah—Citraratha; stribhih—by many beautiful women; vrtah—surrounded; yatra—where; dvija-ksayah—the brahmana Kausika had died. TRANSLATION Surrounded by many beautiful women, Citraratha, the King of Gandharvaloka, was once passing in his airplane over the brahmana’s body at the spot where the brahmana had died. SB6.8.40 TEXT 40 gaganan nyapatat sadyah savimano hy avak-sirah sa valikhilya-vacanad asthiny adaya vismitah prasya praci-sarasvatyam snatva dhama svam anvagat SYNONYMS gaganat—from the sky; nyapatat—fell; sadyah—suddenly; sa-vimanah—with his airplane; hi—certainly; avak-sirah—with his head downward; sah—he; valikhilya—of the great sages named the Valikhilyas; vacanat—by the instructions; asthini—all the bones; adaya—taking; vismitah—struck with wonder; prasya—throwing; praci-sarasvatyam—in the River Sarasvati, which flows to the east; snatva—bathing in that river; dhama—to the abode; svam—his own; anvagat—returned. TRANSLATION Suddenly Citraratha was forced to fall from the sky headfirst with his airplane. Struck with wonder, he was ordered by the great sages named the Valikhilyas to throw the brahmana’s bones in the nearby River Sarasvati. He had to do this and bathe in the river before returning to his own abode. SB6.8.41 TEXT 41 sri-suka uvaca ya idam srnuyat kale yo dharayati cadrtah tam namasyanti bhutani mucyate sarvato bhayat SYNONYMS sri-sukah uvaca—Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said; yah—anyone who; idam—this; srnuyat—may hear; kale—at a time of fear; yah—anyone who; dharayati—employs this prayer; ca—also; adrtah—with faith and adoration; tam—unto him; namasyanti—offer respectful obeisances; bhutani—all living beings; mucyate—is released; sarvatah—from all; bhayat—fearful conditions. TRANSLATION Sri Sukadeva Gosvami said: My dear Maharaja Pariksit, one who employs this armor or hears about it with faith and veneration when afraid because of any conditions in the material world is immediately freed from all dangers and is worshiped by all living entities. SB6.8.42 TEXT 42 etam vidyam adhigato visvarupac chatakratuh trailokya-laksmim bubhuje vinirjitya mrdhe ’suran SYNONYMS etam—this; vidyam—prayer; adhigatah—received; visvarupat—from the brahmana Visvarupa; sata-kratuh—Indra, the King of heaven; trailokya-laksmim—all the opulence of the three worlds; bubhuje—enjoyed; vinirjitya—conquering; mrdhe—in battle; asuran—all the demons. TRANSLATION King Indra, who performed one hundred sacrifices, received this prayer of protection from Visvarupa. After conquering the demons, he enjoyed all the opulences of the three worlds. PURPORT This mystical mantric armor given by Visvarupa to Indra, the King of heaven, acted powerfully, with the effect that Indra was able to conquer the asuras and enjoy the opulence of the three worlds without impediments. In this regard, Madhvacarya points out: vidyah karmani ca sada One must receive all kinds of mantras from a bona fide spiritual master; otherwise the mantras will not be fruitful. This is also indicated in Bhagavad-gita (4.34): tad viddhi pranipatena “Just try to learn the truth by approaching a spiritual master. Inquire from him submissively and render service unto him. The self-realized soul can impart knowledge unto you because he has seen the truth.” All mantras should be received through the authorized guru, and the disciple must satisfy the guru in all respects, after surrendering at his lotus feet. In the Padma Purana it is also said, sampradaya-vihina ye mantras te nisphala matah. There are four sampradayas, or disciplic successions, namely the Brahma-sampradaya, the Rudra-sampradaya, the Sri sampradaya and the Kumara-sampradaya. If one wants to advance in spiritual power, one must receive his mantras from one of these bona fide sampradayas; otherwise he will never successfully advance in spiritual life. Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Sixth Canto, Eighth Chapter, of the Srimad-Bhagavatam, entitled “The Narayana-kavaca Shield.”
jyotsna vistarini yatha
parasya brahmanah saktis
tathedam akhilam jagat
caitanya-rasa-vigrahah
purnah suddho nitya-mukto
’bhinnatvan nama-naminoh
bhusaheti dhvajesv ajah
tat-tac-chakti-pradatvena
svayam eva vyavasthitah
satyenanena mam devah
patu sarvesvaro harih
guroh praptah phala-pradah
anyatha naiva phaladah
prasannoktah phala-pradah
pariprasnena sevaya
upadeksyanti te jnanam
jnaninas tattva-darsinah