Shloka 20
विन्ध्यवृद्धिनिवारणम् — The Restraint of the Vindhya
Agastya’s Injunction
इन्द्र आदि सब देवताओंने मिलकर भयसे मुक्त होनेके लिये मन्त्रणा की। फिर वे समस्त देवता सबको शरण देनेवाले, शरणागतवत्सल, अजन्मा एवं सर्वव्यापी, अपराजित वैकुण्ठनाथ भगवान् नारायणदेवकी शरणमें गये और नमस्कार करके उन मधुसूदनसे बोले -- || त्वं नः स्रष्टा च भर्ता च हर्ता च जगत: प्रभो । त्वया सृष्टमिदं विश्वं यच्चेड़ं यच्च नेड़ति
tvaṁ naḥ sraṣṭā ca bhartā ca hartā ca jagataḥ prabho | tvayā sṛṣṭam idaṁ viśvaṁ yac ceḍaṁ yac ca neḍati ||
The gods, seeking release from fear, took counsel together. Then all the deities went for refuge to Nārāyaṇa—the protector of all, tender to those who seek shelter, unborn, all-pervading, unconquered Lord of Vaikuṇṭha. Bowing in reverence, they addressed Madhusūdana: “O Lord, You are our creator, our sustainer, and also the withdrawer of the world. This entire universe has been brought forth by You—both what moves and what does not move.”
लोगश उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse affirms Nārāyaṇa as the supreme ground of reality: the one who creates, sustains, and withdraws the cosmos, encompassing both moving and unmoving beings. Ethically, it models śaraṇāgati—turning to the highest refuge when fear and disorder arise.
Indra and the other gods, troubled by fear, deliberate and then approach Nārāyaṇa for protection. They praise him with a theological confession of his cosmic sovereignty before presenting their request.