FolioCorpusBhagavad-gītā

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 8.24.5

శ్రీశుక ఉవాచ గోవిప్రసురసాధూనాం ఛన్దసామపి చేశ్వర: । రక్షామిచ్ఛంస్తనూర్ధత్తే ధర్మస్యార్థస్య చైవ హి ॥ ౫ ॥
śrī-śuka uvāca
[shree-shuka uvaacha]
go-vipra-sura-sādhūnāṁ
[go-vipra-sura-saadhoonaam]
chandasām api ceśvaraḥ
[chandasaam api cheshvarah]
rakṣām icchaṁs tanūr dhatte
[rakshaam ichchams tanoor dhatte]
dharmasyārthasya caiva hi
[dharmasyaarthasya chaiva hi]
Word-for-word
śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said go — of the cows vipra — of the brāhmaṇas sura — of the demigods sādhūnām — and of the devotees chandasām api — even of the Vedic literature ca — and īśvaraḥ — the supreme controller rakṣām — the protection icchan — desiring tanūḥ dhatte — accepts the forms of incarnations dharmasya — of the principles of religion arthasya — of the principles of the purpose of life ca — and eva — indeed hi — certainly.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
śrī-śuka uvāca
śrī-śukaḥ uvāca
Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said
go-vipra-sura-sādhūnāṁ
go
of the cows
vipra
of the brāhmaṇas
sura
of the demigods
sādhūnām
and of the devotees
chandasām api ceśvaraḥ
chandasām api
even of the Vedic literature
rakṣām icchaṁs tanūr dhatte
dharmasyārthasya caiva hi
ca
and
īśvaraḥ
the supreme controller
rakṣām
the protection
icchan
desiring
tanūḥ dhatte
accepts the forms of incarnations
dharmasya
of the principles of religion
arthasya
of the principles of the purpose of life
ca
and
eva
indeed
hi
certainly.
Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: O King, for the sake of protecting the cows, brāhmaṇas, demigods, devotees, the Vedic literature, religious principles, and principles to fulfill the purpose of life, the Supreme Personality of Godhead accepts the forms of incarnations.
Purport

The Supreme Personality of Godhead generally appears in various types of incarnations to give protection to the cows and brāhmaṇas. The Lord is described as go-brāhmaṇa-hitāya ca; in other words, He is always eager to benefit the cows and brāhmaṇas. When Lord Kṛṣṇa appeared, He purposefully became a cowherd boy and showed personally how to give protection to the cows and calves. Similarly, He showed respect to Sudāmā Vipra, a real brāhmaṇa. From the Lord’s personal activities, human society should learn how to give protection specifically to the brāhmaṇas and cows. Then the protection of religious principles, fulfillment of the aim of life and protection of Vedic knowledge can be achieved. Without protection of cows, brahminical culture cannot be maintained; and without brahminical culture, the aim of life cannot be fulfilled. The Lord, therefore, is described as go-brāhmaṇa-hitāya because His incarnation is only for the protection of the cows and brāhmaṇas. Unfortunately, because in Kali-yuga there is no protection of the cows and brahminical culture, everything is in a precarious position. If human society wants to be exalted, the leaders of society must follow the instructions of Bhagavad-gītā and give protection to the cows, the brāhmaṇas and brahminical culture.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: For the sake of protecting the cows, brāhmaṇas, devatās, devotees, the Vedic literature, dharma and artha, the Supreme Lord accepts the forms of incarnations. This verse describes the general purpose of the avatāras.
Related lectures
📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io

← Read full Chapter 24