Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 28
Aditi’s Payo-vrata and Viṣṇu’s Promise to Appear as Her Son
Prelude to Vāmana
त्वं वै प्रजानां स्थिरजङ्गमानां प्रजापतीनामसि सम्भविष्णु: । दिवौकसां देव दिवश्च्युतानां परायणं नौरिव मज्जतोऽप्सु ॥ २८ ॥
tvaṁ vai prajānāṁ sthira-jaṅgamānāṁ prajāpatīnām asi sambhaviṣṇuḥ divaukasāṁ deva divaś cyutānāṁ parāyaṇaṁ naur iva majjato ’psu
Engkaulah pencipta mula-mula semua makhluk, yang diam maupun bergerak, dan Engkaulah pula asal para Prajapati. Wahai Deva, bagi para dewa yang kini jatuh dari kedudukan surga, Engkaulah satu-satunya perlindungan, bagaikan perahu satu-satunya harapan bagi orang yang tenggelam di air.
Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Eighth Canto, Seventeenth Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “The Supreme Lord Agrees to Become Aditi’s Son.”
FAQs
This verse says that for those who have fallen into danger—like the demigods cast down from heaven—Lord Vishnu is the supreme shelter, compared to a boat saving a drowning person.
Aditi prayed because the demigods had been overcome and displaced; she appeals to Vishnu as the source of creation and the only dependable protector who can restore their safety and order.
When circumstances feel overwhelming, this verse teaches to seek steady spiritual refuge—turning to God with humility and trust—rather than relying only on unstable external supports.