The Appearance of Lord Varāha

Lord Varāha appears from Brahmā’s nose, lifts the submerged earth, and receives the sages’ prayers.

Themes of SB 3.13Rakṣā5 Kṛpā3 Dharma3 Abhaya3 from its story phase

Connected storiesYaśodā binds DāmodaraBhṛgu Muni

Who is speakingSūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → ViduraEvery voice in this chapter ›

What this chapter speaks about · the ten subjects

In this chapter

Who · Lord Varāha, Brahmā, Manu, the great sages

The story · Brahmā instructed Manu to beget worthy children and rule through devotional service, but the earth lay submerged in water. As Brahmā considered how to lift it, a wonderful boar appeared from his nose. Answering the devotees’ Vedic prayers with a roar, the Lord entered the water and lifted the earth upon His tusks. The sages worshiped Him, praising the beauty of His form as He carried the earth. He then touched the earth with His hooves and placed it on the water.

What it teaches · The Lord is the object of Vedic prayers and responds to His devotees. Ruling the world and raising a family are to be conducted as worship of Him.

SB 3.13.11 SB 3.13.26 SB 3.13.46 Read chapter 13 ›

Beyond this chapter

Connected stories across the Bhāgavatam

Stories told in other chapters that this chapter's verses or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purports bring in, the other Bhāgavatam verses the purports quote, and stories in other cantos with the same themes. Each link shows the sentence it comes from.

Yaśodā binds Dāmodara

SB 10.9–10 · Yaśodā’s ropes and the twin trees

What it teaches · Yaśodā received mercy unavailable even to great demigods. Wealth can bewilder the intelligence, while a devotee’s correction can lead one toward the Lord.

…Brahmaṇyatīrtha, Vyāsatīrtha, Lakṣmīpati, Mādhavendra Purī, Īśvara Purī, Śrī Caitanya Mahāprabhu, Svarūpa Dāmodara and Śrī Rūpa Gosvāmī and others, Śrī Raghunātha dāsa Gosvāmī, Kṛṣṇadāsa Gosvāmī, Narottama dāsa Ṭhākura, Viśvanātha Cakravartī, Jagannātha dāsa…
Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport · SB 3.13.8 (Text 8)

Read the story in SB 10.9–10

Bhṛgu Muni

SB 10.89 · Bhṛgu’s test and the brāhmaṇa’s sons SB 4.13–14 · King Vena rejects good counsel

What it teaches · The chapter identifies tolerance as a sure sign of greatness and establishes Lord Viṣṇu’s supremacy. Arjuna’s unsuccessful search also shows the limits of even an extraordinary warrior’s independent power.

Therefore Brahmā and all the sages, such as Bhṛgu, Brahmā’s other sons, and learned brāhmaṇas, were enlivened, and they concertedly joined in praising the Lord with the transcendental vibrations of the Vedic hymns.
Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport · SB 3.13.25 (Text 25)

Read the story in SB 10.89

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