FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.8.18

धन्वन्तरिर्भगवान् पात्वपथ्याद् द्वन्द्वाद् भयाद‍ृषभो निर्जितात्मा । यज्ञश्च लोकादवताज्जनान्ताद् बलो गणात् क्रोधवशादहीन्द्र: ॥ १८ ॥
dhanvantarir bhagavān pātv apathyād
[dhanvantarir bhagavaan paatv apathyaad]
dvandvād bhayād ṛṣabho nirjitātmā
[dvandvaad bhayaad rishabho nirjitaatmaa]
yajñaś ca lokād avatāj janāntād
[yajnash cha lokaad avataaj janaantaad]
balo gaṇāt krodha-vaśād ahīndraḥ
[balo ganaat krodha-vashaad aheendrah]
Word-for-word
dhanvantariḥ — the incarnation Dhanvantari, the physician bhagavān — the Supreme Personality of Godhead pātu — may He protect me apathyāt — from things injurious to the health, such as meat and intoxicants dvandvāt — from duality bhayāt — from fear ṛṣabhaḥ — Lord Ṛṣabhadeva nirjita-ātmā — who fully controlled his mind and self yajñaḥ — Yajña ca — and lokāt — from the defamation of the populace avatāt — may He protect jana-antāt — from dangerous positions created by other people balaḥ — Lord Balarāma gaṇāt — from the hordes of krodha-vaśāt — the angry serpents ahīndraḥ — Lord Balarāma in the form of the serpent Śeṣa Nāga.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
dhanvantarir bhagavān pātv apathyād
dhanvantariḥ
the incarnation Dhanvantari, the physician
bhagavān
the Supreme Personality of Godhead
pātu
may He protect me
apathyāt
from things injurious to the health, such as meat and intoxicants
dvandvād bhayād ṛṣabho nirjitātmā
dvandvāt
from duality
bhayāt
from fear
ṛṣabhaḥ
Lord Ṛṣabhadeva
nirjita-ātmā
who fully controlled his mind and self
yajñaś ca lokād avatāj janāntād
yajñaḥ
Yajña
ca
and
lokāt
from the defamation of the populace
avatāt
may He protect
jana-antāt
from dangerous positions created by other people
balo gaṇāt krodha-vaśād ahīndraḥ
balaḥ
Lord Balarāma
gaṇāt
from the hordes of
krodha-vaśāt
the angry serpents
ahīndraḥ
Lord Balarāma in the form of the serpent Śeṣa Nāga.
May the Supreme Personality of Godhead in His incarnation as Dhanvantari relieve me from undesirable eatables and protect me from physical illness. May Lord Ṛṣabhadeva, who conquered His inner and outer senses, protect me from fear produced by the duality of heat and cold. May Yajña protect me from defamation and harm from the populace, and may Lord Balarāma as Śeṣa protect me from envious serpents.
Purport

To live within this material world, one must face many dangers, as described herein. For example, undesirable food poses a danger to health, and therefore one must give up such food. The Dhanvantari incarnation can protect us in this regard. Since Lord Viṣṇu is the Supersoul of all living entities, if He likes He can save us from adhibhautika disturbances, disturbances from other living entities. Lord Balarāma is the Śeṣa incarnation, and therefore He can save us from angry serpents or envious persons, who are always ready to attack.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
May Dhanvantari protect me from food which causes illness! May Ṛṣabhadeva, who conquered his inner and outer senses, protect me from fear produced by the dualities! May Yajña protect me from defamation! May Balarāma protect me from injury caused by others! Śeṣa protect me from envious serpents. Lokāt means from rumors. Janāntāt means “from injury caused by people.” Another version has kṛtāntāt. Krodhavacāt gaṇāt means “from snakes.” Ahīṇdraḥ is Śeṣa.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
May Dhanvantari protect me from bad food and illness; Ṛṣabhadeva from fear of inner and outer senses. Health and self-mastery each have their incarnational guardians.
Reflection Questions
  • What 'bad food' (literal or metaphorical) am I still consuming that Dhanvantari could help me give up?
  • Where do my senses most need Ṛṣabhadeva's conquest?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

← Read full Chapter 8