Shloka 21
Viśvarūpa’s Death, Vṛtrāsura’s Manifestation, and the Devas’ Surrender to Nārāyaṇa
श्रीदेवा ऊचु: वाय्वम्बराग्न्यप्क्षितयस्त्रिलोका ब्रह्मादयो ये वयमुद्विजन्त: । हराम यस्मै बलिमन्तकोऽसौ बिभेति यस्मादरणं ततो न: ॥ २१ ॥
śrī-devā ūcuḥ vāyv-ambarāgny-ap-kṣitayas tri-lokā brahmādayo ye vayam udvijantaḥ harāma yasmai balim antako ’sau bibheti yasmād araṇaṁ tato naḥ
قالت الآلهة: إن العوالمَ الثلاثة مؤلَّفة من العناصر الخمسة—الأثير والهواء والنار والماء والأرض—وتحكمها آلهةٌ شتّى بدءًا من براهما. وخوفًا من أن يُنهي عاملُ الزمن وجودَنا نقدّم للزمن قُربانًا بأداء أعمالنا وفق ما يقتضيه؛ غير أنّ الزمن نفسه يخاف من الشخصية الإلهية العليا. فلنعبد إذن ذلك الربّ الأعلى وحده، فهو وحده القادر على منحنا الحماية التامّة.
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.
FAQs
This verse teaches that true fearlessness arises by taking refuge in the Supreme Lord—so powerful that even Death personified fears Him.
They are overwhelmed by danger and anxiety, so they turn to the Supreme Lord as the ultimate protector and the only fearless shelter.
Instead of relying only on temporary supports, cultivate śaraṇāgati—prayerful surrender and remembrance of the Lord—as the inner refuge that steadies the mind.