jantur uvaca

tasyopasannam avitum jagad icchayatta-

 nana-tanor bhuvi calac-caranaravindam

so ’ham vrajami saranam hy akuto-bhayam me

 yenedrsi gatir adarsy asato ’nurupa

 

Translation by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada: 

 

The human soul says: I take shelter of the lotus feet of the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who appears in His various eternal forms and walks on the surface of the world. I take shelter of Him only, because He can give me relief from all fear and from Him I have received this condition of life, which is just befitting my impious activities.

 

Purport by His Divine Grace A. C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Srila Prabhupada: 

 

The word calac-caranaravindam refers to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who actually walks or travels upon the surface of the world. For example, Lord Ramacandra actually walked on the surface of the world, and Lord Krsna also walked just like an ordinary man. The prayer is therefore offered to the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who descends to the surface of this earth, or any part of this universe, for the protection of the pious and the destruction of the impious. It is confirmed in Bhagavad-gita that when there is an increase of irreligion and discrepancies arise in the real religious activities, the Supreme Lord comes to protect the pious and kill the impious. This verse indicates Lord Krsna.

 

Another significant point in this verse is that the Lord comes, icchaya, by His own will. As Krsna confirms in Bhagavad-gita, sambhavamy atma-mayaya: “I appear at My will, by My internal potency.” He is not forced to come by the laws of material nature. It is stated here, icchaya: He does not assume any form, as the impersonalists think, because He comes at His own will, and the form in which He descends is His eternal form. As the Supreme Lord puts the living entity into the condition of horrible existence, He can also deliver him, and therefore one should seek shelter at the lotus feet of Krsna. Krsna demands, “Give up everything and surrender unto Me.” And it is also said in Bhagavad-gita that anyone who approaches Him does not come back again to accept a form in material existence, but goes back to Godhead, back home, never to return.