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Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam
[ Canto 4, Ch. 7 ]
pumān śeṣe siddhair hṛdi vimṛśitādhyātma-padaviḥ sa evādyākṣṇor yaḥ pathi carasi bhṛtyān avasi naḥ
devāḥ —the demigods;  ūcuḥ —said;  purā —formerly;  kalpa-apāye —at the devastation of the  kalpa ;  sva-kṛtam —self-produced;  udarīkṛtya —having drawn within Your abdomen;  vikṛtam —effect;  tvam —You;  eva —certainly;  ādyaḥ —original;  tasmin —in that;  salile —water;  uraga-indra —on Śeṣa;  adhiśayane —on the bed;  pumān —personality;  śeṣe —taking rest;  siddhaiḥ —by the liberated souls (like Sanaka, etc.);  hṛdi —in the heart;  vimṛśita —meditated on;  adhyātma-padaviḥ —the path of philosophical speculation;  saḥ —He;  eva —certainly;  adya —now;  akṣṇoḥ —of both eyes;  yaḥ —who;  pathi —on the path;  carasi —You move;  bhṛtyān —servants;  avasi —protect;  naḥ —us.
TRANSLATION
The demigods said: Dear Lord, formerly, when there was a devastation, You conserved all the different energies of material manifestation. At that time all the inhabitants of the higher planets, represented by such liberated souls as Sanaka, were meditating on You by philosophical speculation. You are therefore the Original Person, and You rest in the water of devastation on the bed of the Śeṣa snake. Now, today, You are visible to us, who are all Your servants. Please give us protection.
PURPORT
The devastation indicated in this verse is the partial devastation of the lower planets within the universe at the time when Lord Brahmā goes to sleep. The higher planetary systems, beginning with Janaloka, Maharloka 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.
Another significant point in this verse is that the demigods said, “We are all Your servants [ bhṛtyān ]. Give us Your protection.” The demigods depend on the protection of Viṣṇu; they are not independent.  Bhagavad-gītā , therefore, condemns the worship of demigods because there is no need of it and clearly states that only those who have lost their sense go asking favors of the demigods. Generally, if anyone has material desire to be fulfilled, he can ask Viṣṇu instead of going to the demigods.