FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 5.18.20

स वै पति: स्यादकुतोभय: स्वयं समन्तत: पाति भयातुरं जनम् । स एक एवेतरथा मिथो भयं नैवात्मलाभादधि मन्यते परम् ॥ २० ॥
sa vai patiḥ syād akutobhayaḥ svayaṁ
[sa vai patih syaad akutobhayah svayam]
samantataḥ pāti bhayāturaṁ janam
[samantatah paati bhayaaturam janam]
sa eka evetarathā mitho bhayaṁ
[sa eka evetarathaa mitho bhayam]
naivātmalābhād adhi manyate param
[naivaatmalaabhaad adhi manyate param]
Word-for-word
saḥ — he vai — indeed patiḥ — a husband syāt — would be akutaḥ-bhayaḥ — who is not fearful of anyone svayam — self-sufficient samantataḥ — entirely pāti — maintains bhaya-āturam — who is very afraid janam — a person saḥ — therefore he ekaḥ — one eva — only itarathā — otherwise mithaḥ — from one another bhayam — fear na — not eva — indeed ātma-lābhāt — than the attainment of You adhi — greater manyate — is accepted param — other thing.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
sa vai patiḥ syād akutobhayaḥ svayaṁ
saḥ
he
vai
indeed
patiḥ
a husband
syāt
would be
akutaḥ-bhayaḥ
who is not fearful of anyone
svayam
self-sufficient
samantataḥ pāti bhayāturaṁ janam
samantataḥ
entirely
pāti
maintains
bhaya-āturam
who is very afraid
janam
a person
sa eka evetarathā mitho bhayaṁ
saḥ
therefore he
ekaḥ
one
eva
only
itarathā
otherwise
mithaḥ
from one another
bhayam
fear
naivātmalābhād adhi manyate param
na
not
eva
indeed
ātma-lābhāt
than the attainment of You
adhi
greater
manyate
is accepted
param
other thing.
He alone who is never afraid but who, on the contrary, gives complete shelter to all fearful persons can actually become a husband and protector. Therefore, my Lord, You are the only husband, and no one else can claim this position. If You were not the only husband, You would be afraid of others. Therefore persons learned in all Vedic literature accept only Your Lordship as everyone’s master, and they think no one else a better husband and protector than You.
Purport

Here the meaning of husband or guardian is clearly explained. People want to become a husband, a guardian, a governor or a political leader without knowing the actual meaning of such a superior position. There are many people all over the world — indeed, throughout the universe — who claim for some time that they are husbands, political leaders or guardians, but in due course of time the Supreme Lord desires their removal from their posts, and their careers are immediately finished. Therefore those who are actually learned and advanced in spiritual life do not accept any leader, husband or maintainer other than the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Lord Kṛṣṇa personally states in Bhagavad-gītā (18.66) , ahaṁ tvāṁ sarva-pāpebhyo mokṣayiṣyāmi: “I shall deliver you from all sinful reactions.” Kṛṣṇa is not afraid of anyone. On the contrary, everyone is afraid of Kṛṣṇa. Therefore He can actually give protection to a subordinate living entity. Since so-called leaders or dictators are completely under the control of material nature, they can never give complete protection to others, although they claim this ability due to false prestige. Na te viduḥ svārtha-gatiṁ hi viṣṇum: people do not know that real advancement in life consists of accepting the Supreme Personality of Godhead as one’s master. Instead of deceiving themselves and others by pretending to be all-powerful, all political leaders, husbands and guardians should spread the Kṛṣṇa consciousness movement so that everyone can learn how to surrender to Kṛṣṇa, the supreme husband.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Since the Lord by nature has no fear, he protects all persons. He alone should be the husband. Otherwise there is mutual fear. The wise do not accept anything better than attaining you. These women do not know the meaning of the word husband (pati). How can a person who cannot protect himself protect (pāti) another person (wife)? First of all, he should have no fear of anything. You alone are that person. They take another meaning of husband (itarathā). Or itarathā can have a locative sense, meaning “in another case.” In another case, all the leaders, protectors of citizens have fear of each other. Thus the citizens have fear. That actually is not protection. Those learned in scriptures consider that there is no greater object that attaining Paramātmā, you (ātma-lābhāt). All other attainments are not as great as attaining you. You actually are worthy of the word husband or protector.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
Only the One who is never afraid can truly protect others. Anyone else who claims to be a guardian is themselves dependent and frightened. The Lord alone is the real husband, master, and protector of every soul.
Reflection Questions
  • Whom do I treat as my real protector, and is that person also dependent and afraid?
  • What would change if I acknowledged the Lord as my actual refuge and let other relationships find their right size?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

← Read full Chapter 18