Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 23

Raivata and Cākṣuṣa Manvantaras; Brahmā’s Prayers at Śvetadvīpa

Prelude to Samudra-manthana

Devanagari script

अयं च तस्य स्थितिपालनक्षण: सत्त्वं जुषाणस्य भवाय देहिनाम् । तस्माद् व्रजाम: शरणं जगद्गुरुं स्वानां स नो धास्यति शं सुरप्रिय: ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

ayaṁ ca tasya sthiti-pālana-kṣaṇaḥ sattvaṁ juṣāṇasya bhavāya dehinām tasmād vrajāmaḥ śaraṇaṁ jagad-guruṁ svānāṁ sa no dhāsyati śaṁ sura-priyaḥ

Translation

Now is the time to invoke the mode of goodness of the living entities who have accepted material bodies. The mode of goodness is meant to establish the Supreme Lord’s rule, which will maintain the existence of the creation. Therefore, this is the opportune moment to take shelter of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Because He is naturally very kind and dear to the demigods, He will certainly bestow good fortune upon us.

Synonyms

• अयम्: this (one)
• अयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: इदम् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• तस्य: of him/of that (Lord)
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध

• स्थिति-पालन-क्षणः: the phase of preservation
• स्थिति-पालन-क्षणः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्थिति (प्रातिपदिक) + पालन (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष (the occasion/phase of maintenance)

• सत्त्वम्: sattva (the mode of goodness)
• सत्त्वम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्त्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• जुषाणस्य: of (him) who adopts/enjoys
• जुषाणस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जुष् (धातु)
• Form: शानच्-प्रत्यय (Present middle participle), आत्मनेपदी; पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• भवाय: for welfare/prosperity
• भवाय: Sampradāna/Prayojana (सम्प्रदान/प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/4th), एकवचन; प्रयोजन (for the sake of)

• देहिनाम्: of embodied beings
• देहिनाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देहिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• तस्मात्: therefore
• तस्मात्: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात्-इत्यव्ययप्रयोग (ablatival adverbial): पञ्चमी-अर्थे (from that/therefore)

• व्रजामः: we go
• व्रजामः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √व्रज् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार, उत्तम-पुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपदी

• शरणम्: for refuge
• शरणम्: Gati/Karma (गति/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; गत्यर्थे द्वितीया

• जगत्-गुरुम्: the teacher of the world
• जगत्-गुरुम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जगत् (प्रातिपदिक) + गुरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (jagataḥ guruḥ)

• स्वानाम्: of his own (devotees/people)
• स्वानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; स्व-शब्द (of one’s own)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• नः: to us
• नः: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी-रूप (Genitive/Dative enclitic), बहुवचन; ‘to us/for us’

• धास्यति: will bestow/place
• धास्यति: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √धा (धातु)
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Simple Future), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदी

• शम्: peace/auspiciousness
• शम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम् (प्रातिपदिक/अव्ययवत्)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; फल (object bestowed)

• सुर-प्रियः: dear to the gods
• सुर-प्रियः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (surāṇāṁ priyaḥ)

Purport

The material world is conducted by the three modes of nature, namely sattva-guṇa, rajo-guṇa and tamo-guṇa. By rajo-guṇa everything material is created, by sattva-guṇa everything material is maintained properly, and by tamo-guṇa, when the creation is improperly situated, everything is destroyed.

Characters & Entities

• Jagad-guru (the Supreme Lord/Vishnu)
• Devas (demigods)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about taking shelter of the Jagad-guru (Vishnu)?

This verse shows the devas choosing śaraṇāgati—refuge in the Jagad-guru—trusting that the Lord, affectionate to His devotees, will grant auspiciousness and protection.

Why do the demigods approach the Supreme Lord in Canto 8 Chapter 5?

Overwhelmed by crisis and unable to maintain cosmic order on their own, the devas recognize the Lord as the sustainer through sattva and therefore seek His shelter for peace and success.

Practical application of sattva and surrender in modern life according to this shloka?

Cultivate clarity and goodness (sattva) while placing outcomes at the Lord’s feet; this combination supports steadiness, wise action, and inner peace during uncertainty.