36 Srimad-Bhagavatam [Canto 8, Ch. 1

TRANSLATION

During the reign of Tamasa Manu, among the demigods were
the Satyakas, Haris and Viras. The heavenly King, Indra, was
Trisikha. The sages in saptarsi-dhama were headed by
Jyotirdhama.

TEXT 29

zal avant aa fvaeaT aa |
ABI: HOA AAMT AAT: Fa ATAT 11281

deva vaidhrtayo nama
vidhrtes tanayd nrpa

nastah kalena yair veda
vidhrtah svena tejasa

devah—the demigods; vaidhrtayah—the Vaidhrtis,; nadma—by the
name; vidhrteh—of Vidhrti; tanayah—who were the sons; nrpa—O
King; nastah—were lost; kalena—by the influence of time; yaih—by
whom; vedah—the Vedas; vidhrtah—were protected; svena—by their
own; tejasd—power.

TRANSLATION

O King, in the Tamasa manvantara the sons of Vidhrti, who were
known as the Vaidhrtis, also became demigods. Since in course of
time the Vedic authority was lost, these demigods, by their own
powers, protected the Vedic authority.

PURPORT

In the Tamasa manvantara there were two kinds of demigods, and one
of them was known as the Vaidhrtis. The duty of the demigods is to pro-
tect the authority of the Vedas. The word devatd refers to one who car-
ries the authority of the Vedas, whereas Raksasas are those who defy the
Vedic authority. If the authority of the Vedas is lost, the entire universe
becomes chaotic. Therefore, it is the duty of the demigods, as well as
kings and aides of governments, to give full protection to the Vedic au-
thority; otherwise human society will be in a chaotic condition in which
there cannot be peace or prosperity.
