FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 8.1.29

देवा वैधृतयो नाम विधृतेस्तनया नृप । नष्टा: कालेन यैर्वेदा विधृता: स्वेन तेजसा ॥ २९ ॥
devā vaidhṛtayo nāma
[devaa vaidhritayo naama]
vidhṛtes tanayā nṛpa
[vidhrites tanayaa nripa]
naṣṭāḥ kālena yair vedā
[nashtaah kaalena yair vedaa]
vidhṛtāḥ svena tejasā
[vidhritaah svena tejasaa]
Word-for-word
devāḥ — the demigods vaidhṛtayaḥ — the Vaidhṛtis nāma — by the name vidhṛteḥ — of Vidhṛti tanayāḥ — who were the sons nṛpa — O King naṣṭāḥ — were lost kālena — by the influence of time yaiḥ — by whom vedāḥ — the Vedas vidhṛtāḥ — were protected svena — by their own tejasā — power.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
devā vaidhṛtayo nāma
devāḥ
the demigods
vaidhṛtayaḥ
the Vaidhṛtis
nāma
by the name
vidhṛtes tanayā nṛpa
vidhṛteḥ
of Vidhṛti
tanayāḥ
who were the sons
nṛpa
O King
naṣṭāḥ kālena yair vedā
naṣṭāḥ
were lost
kālena
by the influence of time
yaiḥ
by whom
vedāḥ
the Vedas
vidhṛtāḥ svena tejasā
vidhṛtāḥ
were protected
svena
by their own
tejasā
power.
O King, in the Tāmasa manvantara the sons of Vidhṛti, who were known as the Vaidhṛtis, also became demigods. Since in course of time the Vedic authority was lost, these demigods, by their own powers, protected the Vedic authority.
Purport

In the Tāmasa manvantara there were two kinds of demigods, and one of them was known as the Vaidhṛtis. The duty of the demigods is to protect the authority of the Vedas. The word devatā refers to one who carries the authority of the Vedas, whereas Rākṣasas are those who defy the Vedic authority. If the authority of the Vedas is lost, the entire universe becomes chaotic. Therefore, it is the duty of the demigods, as well as kings and aides of governments, to give full protection to the Vedic authority; otherwise human society will be in a chaotic condition in which there cannot be peace or prosperity.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
O King, in the Tāmasa Manvantara the sons of Vidhṛti, who were known as the Vaidhṛtis, also became devatās. Since in course of time the Vedas were lost, these devatās protected the Vedas by their own powers. In this Manvantara there were two sets of devatās--those mentioned in the previous verse and those mentioned in this verse.
Related lectures
Personal Guidance
When Vedic authority is lost the universe becomes chaotic, so devoted demigods restore it. Personal lives mirror this: when scripture loses its central place, our days drift into confusion. Re-anchor regularly in śāstra — the Vedas hold the world together, inside and out.
Reflection Questions
  • Where has scriptural authority quietly lost its place in my decision-making?
  • What is one daily contact with śāstra I can restore this week?
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

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