FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 9.4.28

तस्मा अदाद्धरिश्चक्रं प्रत्यनीकभयावहम् । एकान्तभक्तिभावेन प्रीतो भक्ताभिरक्षणम् ॥ २८ ॥
tasmā adād dhariś cakraṁ
[tasmaa adaad dharish chakram]
pratyanīka-bhayāvaham
[pratyaneeka-bhayaavaham]
ekānta-bhakti-bhāvena
[ekaanta-bhakti-bhaavena]
prīto bhaktābhirakṣaṇam
[preeto bhaktaabhirakshanam]
tasmai — unto him (Ambarīṣa Mahārāja) adāt — gave hariḥ — the Supreme Personality of Godhead cakram — His disc pratyanīka-bhaya-āvaham — the Lord’s disc, which was extremely fearful to the enemies of the Lord and His devotees ekānta-bhakti-bhāvena — because of his performing unalloyed devotional service prītaḥ — the Lord being so pleased bhakta-abhirakṣaṇam — for the protection of His devotees.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
tasmā adād dhariś cakraṁ
tasmai
unto him (Ambarīṣa Mahārāja)
adāt
gave
hariḥ
the Supreme Personality of Godhead
cakram
His disc
pratyanīka-bhayāvaham
pratyanīka-bhaya-āvaham
the Lord’s disc, which was extremely fearful to the enemies of the Lord and His devotees
ekānta-bhakti-bhāvena
ekānta-bhakti-bhāvena
because of his performing unalloyed devotional service
prīto bhaktābhirakṣaṇam
prītaḥ
the Lord being so pleased
bhakta-abhirakṣaṇam
for the protection of His devotees.
Being very pleased by the unalloyed devotion of Mahārāja Ambarīṣa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead gave the King His disc, which is fearful to enemies and which always protects the devotee from enemies and adversities.

A devotee, being always engaged in the service of the Lord, may not be expert in self-defense, but because a devotee fully depends on the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, he is always sure of protection by the Lord. Prahlāda Mahārāja said:

naivodvije para duratyaya-vaitaraṇyās tvad-vīrya-gāyana-mahāmṛta-magna-cittaḥ

( Bhāg. 7.9.43 )

A devotee is always merged in the ocean of the transcendental bliss of rendering service to the Lord. Therefore he is not at all afraid of any adverse situation in the material world. The Lord also promises, kaunteya pratijānīhi na me bhaktaḥ praṇaśyati: “O Arjuna, you may declare to the world that the devotees of the Lord are never vanquished.” ( Bg. 9.31 ) For the protection of the devotees, Kṛṣṇa’s disc, the Sudarśana cakra, is always ready. This disc is extremely fearful to the nondevotees ( pratyanīka-bhayāvaham ). Therefore although Mahārāja Ambarīṣa was fully engaged in devotional service, his kingdom was free of all fear of adversity.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Being pleased by the unalloyed devotion of Mahārāja Ambarīṣa, the Supreme Lord gave the King his disc, which is fearful to enemies and protects the devotees. “How could he defeat enemies if he acted in this way?” The Lord protected him in order that his bhakti would not be disturbed.
Related verses
Pleased by Ambarīṣa's unalloyed devotion, the Lord gave him the Sudarśana cakra as protection. Devotees do not need to be expert in self-defense; the Lord deploys His own weapons on their behalf.
Reflection Questions
  • Where am I exhausting myself defending what the Lord has already promised to defend?
  • How would my day change if I trusted that Sudarśana is already orbiting my situation?
📝 My note

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