FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 6.9.21

श्रीदेवा ऊचु: वाय्वम्बराग्‍न्यप्क्षितयस्त्रिलोका ब्रह्मादयो ये वयमुद्विजन्त: । हराम यस्मै बलिमन्तकोऽसौ बिभेति यस्मादरणं ततो न: ॥ २१ ॥
śrī-devā ūcuḥ
[shree-devaa oochuh]
vāyv-ambarāgny-ap-kṣitayas tri-lokā
[vaayv-ambaraagny-ap-kshitayas tri-lokaa]
brahmādayo ye vayam udvijantaḥ
[brahmaadayo ye vayam udvijantah]
harāma yasmai balim antako ’sau
[haraama yasmai balim antako ’sau]
bibheti yasmād araṇaṁ tato naḥ
[bibheti yasmaad aranam tato nah]
Word-for-word
śrī-devāḥ ūcuḥ — the demigods said vāyu — composed of air ambara — sky agni — fire ap — water kṣitayaḥ — and land tri-lokāḥ — the three worlds brahma-ādayaḥ — beginning from Lord Brahmā ye — who vayam — we udvijantaḥ — being very much afraid harāma — offer yasmai — unto whom balim — presentation antakaḥ — the destroyer, death asau — that bibheti — fears yasmāt — from whom araṇam — shelter tataḥ — therefore naḥ — our.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
śrī-devā ūcuḥ
śrī-devāḥ ūcuḥ
the demigods said
vāyu
composed of air
vāyv-ambarāgny-ap-kṣitayas tri-lokā
ambara
sky
agni
fire
ap
water
kṣitayaḥ
and land
tri-lokāḥ
the three worlds
brahmādayo ye vayam udvijantaḥ
brahma-ādayaḥ
beginning from Lord Brahmā
ye
who
vayam
we
udvijantaḥ
being very much afraid
harāma yasmai balim antako ’sau
harāma
offer
yasmai
unto whom
balim
presentation
antakaḥ
the destroyer, death
bibheti yasmād araṇaṁ tato naḥ
asau
that
bibheti
fears
yasmāt
from whom
araṇam
shelter
tataḥ
therefore
naḥ
our.
The demigods said: The three worlds are created by the five elements — namely ether, air, fire, water and earth — which are controlled by various demigods, beginning from Lord Brahmā. Being very much afraid that the time factor will end our existence, we offer presentations unto time by performing our work as time dictates. The time factor himself, however, is afraid of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore let us now worship that Supreme Lord, who alone can give us full protection.
Purport

When one is afraid of being killed, one must take shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. He is worshiped by all the demigods, beginning from Brahmā, although they are in charge of the various elements of this material world. The words bibheti yasmāt indicate that all the demons, regardless of how great and powerful, fear the Supreme Personality of Godhead. The demigods, being afraid of death, took shelter of the Lord and offered Him these prayers. Although the time factor is fearful to everyone, fear personified is afraid of the Supreme Lord, who is therefore known as abhaya, fearless. Taking shelter of the Supreme Lord brings actual fearlessness, and therefore the demigods decided to take shelter of the Lord.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
The devatās said: Let us take protection of the Lord whom death fears and to whom we , the elements--ether, air, fire, water and earth, the planets composed of elements and the devatās including Brahmā, who are now in fear of death, offer presentations! They take shelter of the Lord, thinking that no one except the Lord can protect them from the danger of Vṛtrāsura. The elements mentioned represent all twenty-three elements. Those elements, the planets made of the elements, and the devatās in charge of the planets, starting with Brahmā, and all of us present now, who are afraid of death, offer gifts to the Lord. Let there be shelter coming from the Lord (tataḥ) whom death fears.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
The demigods address the Lord: the three worlds rest on five elements controlled by Brahmā and others; afraid of time, we seek shelter in You alone. The structure of the universe itself drives one toward the Supreme.
Reflection Questions
  • Do I recognize the time factor as my real opponent?
  • Whom would I take shelter of if I admitted I cannot outpace time?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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