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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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Canto 3 · The Status Quo · 33 chapters

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Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

How to study this verse, in six steps
  1. 1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
  2. 2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
  3. 3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
  4. 4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
  5. 5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
  6. 6Write down what touched you. Note the main points in your own notebook.
Read the full guide: how to hear the Bhāgavatam ›
Canto 3 · Chapter 13: The Appearance of Lord Varāha
3.13.163.13.18

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.13.17

Āśraya· The supreme shelter
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 3.13.16inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

सृजतो मे क्षितिर्वार्भि:प्लाव्यमाना रसां गता ।

अथात्र किमनुष्ठेयमस्माभि: सर्गयोजितै: ।

यस्याहं हृदयादासं स ईशो विदधातु मे ॥ १७ ॥

sṛjato me kṣitir vārbhiḥ

plāvyamānā rasāṁ gatā

athātra kim anuṣṭheyam

asmābhiḥ sarga-yojitaiḥ

yasyāhaṁ hṛdayād āsaṁ

sa īśo vidadhātu me

Translation

Brahmā thought: While I have been engaged in the process of creation, the earth has been inundated by a deluge and has gone down into the depths of the ocean. What can we do who are engaged in this matter of creation? It is best to let the Almighty Lord direct us.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Seek the Lord's Direction Without Discouragement

  1. 1

    When the earth sinks into the ocean during creation, Brahmā wonders what should be done. He concludes that it is best to let the Almighty Lord direct them.

  2. 2

    Even the Lord's confidential devotees can become perplexed while carrying out their duties. Yet they do not become discouraged.

  3. 3

    Devotees have full faith in the Lord. He paves the way for the smooth progress of their service.

Key points from the purport
  • The devotees of the Lord, who are all confidential servitors, are sometimes perplexed in the discharge of their respective duties, but they are never discouraged.
  • They have full faith in the Lord, and He paves the way for the smooth progress of the devotee’s duty.

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

How it feels

Threat and anger → Rescue and wonder. Divine protection appears amid cosmic confrontation.

Chapters 13–19 of Canto 3: Varāha, Jaya and Vijaya, Hiraṇyākṣa. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 13: The Appearance of Lord Varāha

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

Back to this verse in chapter 3.13
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. sṛjataḥwhile engaged in creation
  2. meof me
  3. kṣitiḥthe earth
  4. vārbhiḥby the water
  5. plāvyamānābeing inundated
  6. rasāmdepth of water
  7. gatāgone down
  8. athatherefore
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Āśraya · The summum bonum

    Who is the shelter of everything? · Subject 10 of 10

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 3.13

    In this verse: “duties”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 3.13

    In this verse: “devotees”

Chapter themes come from the story phase this chapter belongs to.

4

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

When a duty becomes confusing, how can you seek the Lord's direction without losing heart?

Practice

Bring one difficulty before the Lord in a brief prayer, asking for direction in carrying out your duty.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySeek the Lord's Direction Without DiscouragementThis verse's lesson: one practice and one question for today

Study points are short summaries, not the translation. Confirm them in the original text and purport on Vedabase.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 3.13.17? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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