Devanagari
तस्मान्मच्छरणं गोष्ठं मन्नाथं मत्परिग्रहम्
गोपाये स्वात्मयोगेन सोऽयं मे व्रत आहित: ॥ १८ ॥
Verse text
tasmān mac-charaṇaṁ goṣṭhaṁ
man-nāthaṁ mat-parigraham
gopāye svātma-yogena
so ’yaṁ me vrata āhitaḥ
Synonyms
tasmāt
—
therefore
;
mat
—
śaraṇam — having taken shelter of Me
;
goṣṭham
—
the cowherd community
;
mat
—
nātham — who have Me as their master
;
mat
—
parigraham — My own family
;
gopāye
—
I shall protect
;
sva
—
ātma — yogena — by My personal mystic power
;
saḥ ayam
—
this
;
me
—
by Me
;
vrataḥ
—
vow
;
āhitaḥ
—
has been taken .
Translation
I must therefore protect the cowherd community by My transcendental potency, for I am their shelter, I am their master, and indeed they are My own family. After all, I have taken a vow to protect My devotees.
Translation (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
I must therefore protect the cowherd community by My transcendental potency, for I am their shelter, I am their master, and indeed they are My own family. After all, I have taken a vow to protect My devotees.
KB 10.25.18
I shall give protection to My pure devotees in Vṛndāvana, who are at present completely dependent on My mercy and whom I have taken completely under My protection. I must save them by My mystic power.”
Purport
The word
mac-charaṇam
indicates not only that Lord Kṛṣṇa was the sole shelter for the
vraja-jana,
the people of Vṛndāvana, but also that Lord Kṛṣṇa had established His home among them. Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura quotes from the
Anekārtha-varga
dictionary,
śaraṇaṁ gṛha-rakṣitroḥ
: “The word
śaraṇam
can represent either home or protector.” The residents of Vṛndāvana adopted Kṛṣṇa as their beloved child, friend, lover and life itself, and the Lord reciprocated their feelings. Thus Śrī Kṛṣṇa lived among these fortunate people, moving in their houses and fields; naturally He would protect such intimate devotees from all types of danger.
Purport (Visvanatha Cakravarti Thakura)
Because this disturbance has been created by Indra (tasmat), I will protect Vraja (gostham). Vraja is my home (mat saranam), and I am the master of the house (mat natha). It is the place where my father, brother and dear ones live (mat parigraham.). Not only will I protect these people from this disturbance, but I protect all people even at the time of mahapralaya. To indicate this, Krsna says, "I have accepted this vow."
Purport (Jiva Goswami)
Since Indra is pouring rain to destroy my father and others (included in the word asmabhiḥ in verse 15), who are non-different from me, I will now take countermeasures for that, and at the same time will take away the ignorance of these controllers of planets. This is proper. Therefore I will immediately protect this village through my natural, extraordinary power (ātma-yogena). Not only now will I protect. This protection is eternally accomplished. It is my vow or rule to protect this community. This village is protected by me (mac-charaṇam) since I am the master of this village (man-nātham). It should be protected like my family even by criminal means (parigraham).
vṛddhau ca mātāpitarau sādhvī bhāryā sutaḥ śiśuḥ
apy akārya-śataṁ kṛtvā bhartavyā manur abravīt
Manu has said that the elders, mother, father, chaste wife, sons and children should be protected even by criminal means.
Or, the village has taken shelter of me and should be protected by me because I am everything to them. They love only me. Therefore I will protect them. The present tense is used shows that it is his nature to protect them. I will protect them by his natural power (ātma-yogena). Though this is eternally accomplished, it now will be enacted. The reason is given. I have made this promise (vratam) as the Lord with eternal human pastimes. I should break the pride of Indra in order to protect the people of Vraja since Indra has the tendency to oppose the cowherds surrendered to me and is not inclined to surrender.
Purport (Sanatana Goswami)
This village is protected by me (mac-charaṇam) since I am the master of this village (man-nātham). It should be protected like my family even by criminal means (parigraham). Or, the village has taken shelter of me and should be protected by me because I am everything to them. They love only me. Therefore I will protect them since they are mine (sva). Or I will protect them by my special śakti (ātma-yogena) which is beautiful (su), composed of human pastimes and special powers. Why special powers should be revealed? This is my vow. Those who once surrender are mine. That is my vow. I cannot break it. Or I have made this strong promise. To comfort the cowherds he speaks with great courage and pride.