Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 12.6.19
तं गोपायति राजेन्द्र शक्र: शरणमागतम् ।
तेन संस्तम्भित: सर्पस्तस्मान्नाग्नौ पतत्यसौ ॥ १९ ॥
taṁ gopāyati rājendra
[tam gopaayati raajendra]
śakraḥ śaraṇam āgatam
[shakrah sharanam aagatam]
tena saṁstambhitaḥ sarpas
[tena samstambhitah sarpas]
tasmān nāgnau pataty asau
[tasmaan naagnau pataty asau]
Word-for-word
tam
—
him (Takṣaka)
gopāyati
—
is hiding
rāja-indra
—
O best of kings
śakraḥ
—
Lord Indra
śaraṇam
—
for shelter
āgatam
—
who has approached
tena
—
by that Indra
saṁstambhitaḥ
—
kept
sarpaḥ
—
the snake
tasmāt
—
thus
na
—
not
agnau
—
into the fire
patati
—
does fall
asau
—
he.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
taṁ gopāyati rājendra
tam
him (Takṣaka)
gopāyati
is hiding
rāja-indra
O best of kings
śakraḥ śaraṇam āgatam
śakraḥ
Lord Indra
śaraṇam
for shelter
āgatam
who has approached
tena saṁstambhitaḥ sarpas
tena
by that Indra
saṁstambhitaḥ
kept
sarpaḥ
the snake
tasmān nāgnau pataty asau
tasmāt
thus
na
not
agnau
into the fire
patati
does fall
asau
he.
The brāhmaṇas replied: O best of kings, the snake Takṣaka has not fallen into the fire because he is being protected by Indra, whom he has approached for shelter. Indra is holding him back from the fire.
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
The brāhmaṇas replied: O best of kings, the snake Takṣaka, stopped by Indra, has not fallen into the fire because he is being protected by Indra, whom he has approached for shelter.
Personal Guidance
The brahmanas reply that Taksaka is being protected by Indra, his refuge. Bhagavatam matter-of-factly shows the political-spiritual networks of power. Reality is not flat; everyone has a patron somewhere.
Reflection Questions
- Whose patronage protects me when my actions misfire?
- Have I considered making the Lord Himself that patron more fully?
My note
Source: vedabase.io