वाय्वम्बराग्न्यप्क्षितयस्त्रिलोका
ब्रह्मादयो ये वयमुद्विजन्तः ।
हराम यस्मै बलिमन्तकोऽसौ
बिभेति यस्मादरणं ततो नः ॥२१॥
Å›rÄ«-devÄ Å«cuḥ
vÄyv-ambarÄgny-ap-ká¹£itayas tri-lokÄ
brahmÄdayo ye vayam udvijantaḥ
harÄma yasmai balim antako 'sau
bibheti yasmÄd araṇaá¹ tato naḥ
Å›rÄ«-devÄḥ Å«cuḥ - the demigods said; vÄyu - composed of air; ambara - sky; agni - fire; ap - water; ká¹£itayaḥ - and land; tri-lokÄḥ - the three worlds; brahma-Ädayaḥ - beginning from Lord BrahmÄ; ye - who; vayam - we; udvijantaḥ - being very much afraid; harÄma - offer; yasmai - unto whom; balim - presentation; antakaḥ - the destroyer, death; asau - that; bibheti - fears; yasmÄt - from whom; araṇam - shelter; tataḥ - therefore; naḥ - our.
The demigods said: The three worlds are created by the five elements — namely ether, air, fire, water and earth — which are controlled by various demigods, beginning from Lord BrahmÄ. Being very much afraid that the time factor will end our existence, we offer presentations unto time by performing our work as time dictates. The time factor himself, however, is afraid of the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Therefore let us now worship that Supreme Lord, who alone can give us full protection.
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 BrahmÄ, although they are in charge of the various elements of this material world. The words bibheti yasmÄt 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.
