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Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.31.12
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A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupada
TEXT 12
- jantur uvāca
- tasyopasannam avituṁ jagad icchayātta-
- nānā-tanor bhuvi calac-caraṇāravindam
- so 'haṁ vrajāmi śaraṇaṁ hy akuto-bhayaṁ me
- yenedṛśī gatir adarśy asato'nurūpā
jantuḥthe human soul says uvācathe human soul says — the human soul says; tasyaof the Supreme Personality of Godhead — of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; upasannamhaving approached for protection — having approached for protection; avitumto protect — to protect; jagatthe universe — the universe; icchayāby His own will — by His own will; āttawho accepts various forms-nānāwho accepts various forms-tanoḥwho accepts various forms — who accepts various forms; bhuvion the earth — on the earth; calatwalking — walking; caraṇathe lotus feet-aravindamthe lotus feet — the lotus feet; saḥI myself ahamI myself — I myself; vrajāmigo — go; śaraṇamunto the shelter — unto the shelter; hiindeed — indeed; akutaḥgiving relief from all fear-bhayamgiving relief from all fear — giving relief from all fear; mefor me — for me; yenaby whom — by whom; īdṛśīsuch — such; gatiḥcondition of life — condition of life; adarśiwas considered — was considered; asataḥimpious — impious; anurūpābefitting — befitting.
The human soul says: I take shelter of the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who appears in His various eternal forms and walks on the surface of the world. I take shelter of Him only, because He can give me relief from all fear and from Him I have received this condition of life, which is just befitting my impious activities.
The word calac-caraṇāravindam refers to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who actually walks or travels upon the surface of the world. For example, Lord Rāmacandra actually walked on the surface of the world, and Lord Kṛṣṇa also walked just like an ordinary man. The prayer is therefore offered to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who descends to the surface of this earth, or any part of this universe, for the protection of the pious and the destruction of the impious. It is confirmed in Bhagavad-gītā that when there is an increase of irreligion and discrepancies arise in the real religious activities, the Supreme Lord comes to protect the pious and kill the impious. This verse indicates Lord Kṛṣṇa.
Another significant point in this verse is that the Lord comes, icchayā, by His own will. As Kṛṣṇa confirms in Bhagavad-gītā, sambhavāmy ātma-māyayā: (BG 4.6, Not yet available in the library. Try the live source.) "I appear at My will, by My internal potential power." He is not forced to come by the laws of material nature. It is stated here, icchayā: He does not assume any form, as the impersonalists think, because He comes at His own will, and the form in which He descends is His eternal form. As the Supreme Lord puts the living entity into the condition of horrible existence, He can also deliver him, and therefore one should seek shelter at the lotus feet of Kṛṣṇa. Kṛṣṇa demands, "Give up everything and surrender unto Me." And it is also said in Bhagavad-gītā that anyone who approaches Him does not come back again to accept a form in material existence, but goes back to Godhead, back home, never to return.