256 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 4, Ch. 7
puman Sese siddhair hrdi vimrsitadhyatma-padavih
sa evadyaksnor yah pathi carasi bhrtyan avasi nah

devah—the demigods; ucuh—said; pura—formerly; kalpa-apaye—at the
devastation of the kalpa; sva-krtam—self-produced; udarikrtya—having
drawn within Your abdomen; vikrtam—effect; tvam— You; eva—certainly;
adyah—original; tasmin—in that; salile—water; uraga-indra—on Sega; ad-
hisayane—on the bed; puman—personality ; sese—taking rest; siddhaih—by
the liberated souls (like Sanaka, etc.); hrdi—in the heart; vimrsita—medi-
tated on; adhyatma-padavih—the path of philosophical speculation; sah—
He; eva—certainly; adya—now; aksnoh—of both eyes; yah—who; pathi—
on the path; carasi— You move; bhrtyan—servants; avasi— protect; nah—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 Sega 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 Brahma 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 [bhrtyan]. Give us Your protection.” The
demigods depend on the protection of Visnu; they are not independent.
Bhagavad-gita, 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 Visnu instead of going to the demigods.
