Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 42
Dakṣa’s Sacrifice Restored: Śiva’s Mercy and Nārāyaṇa’s Appearance
देवा ऊचु: पुरा कल्पापाये स्वकृतमुदरीकृत्य विकृतं त्वमेवाद्यस्तस्मिन् सलिल उरगेन्द्राधिशयने । पुमान्शेषे सिद्धैर्हृदि विमृशिताध्यात्मपदवि: स एवाद्याक्ष्णोर्य: पथि चरसि भृत्यानवसि न: ॥ ४२ ॥
devā ūcuḥ purā kalpāpāye sva-kṛtam udarī-kṛtya vikṛtaṁ tvam evādyas tasmin salila uragendrādhiśayane pumān śeṣe siddhair hṛdi vimṛśitādhyātma-padaviḥ sa evādyākṣṇor yaḥ pathi carasi bhṛtyān avasi naḥ
Para dewa berkata: Wahai Tuhan, dahulu ketika pralaya Engkau menghimpun dan memelihara segala tenaga perwujudan alam dalam diri-Mu; ketika itu Engkau, Pribadi Asal, berbaring di atas Śeṣa dalam air pralaya. Pada masa itu para siddha seperti Sanaka merenung tentang-Mu di dalam hati melalui jalan rohani. Kini Engkau tampak di hadapan mata kami, para hamba-Mu; mohon lindungilah kami.
The devastation indicated in this verse is the partial devastation of the lower planets within the universe when Lord Brahmā goes to sleep. The higher planetary systems, beginning with Maharloka, Janaloka and Tapoloka, are not inundated at the time of this devastation. The Lord is the creator, as indicated in this verse, because the energies of creation are manifested through His body, and after annihilation, He conserves all the energy within His abdomen.
FAQs
This verse says that at the end of the kalpa the Lord withdraws His manifested energies and rests upon the waters on the bed of Ananta Śeṣa, remaining the original Supreme Person.
In the aftermath of Daksha’s disrupted sacrifice and the cosmic disturbance that followed, the devas recognize the Supreme Lord as the ultimate shelter and ask Him to protect them as His servants.
The verse teaches to see God as the steady refuge beyond changing circumstances—cultivating prayerful dependence, humility, and steadiness when facing upheaval.