1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

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

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 3 · The Status Quo · 33 chapters

123456789101112131415161718192021222324252627282930313233

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
3.13.263.13.28

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.13.27

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
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

उत्क्षिप्तवाल: खचर: कठोर:

सटा विधुन्वन् खररोमशत्वक् ।

खुराहताभ्र: सितदंष्ट्र ईक्षा-

ज्योतिर्बभासे भगवान्महीध्र: ॥ २७ ॥

utkṣipta-vālaḥ kha-caraḥ kaṭhoraḥ

saṭā vidhunvan khara-romaśa-tvak

khurāhatābhraḥ sita-daṁṣṭra īkṣā-

jyotir babhāse bhagavān mahīdhraḥ

Translation

Before entering the water to rescue the earth, Lord Boar flew in the sky, slashing His tail, His hard hairs quivering. His very glance was luminous, and He scattered the clouds in the sky with His hooves and His glittering white tusks.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Lord Keśava Sustains the Earth

  1. 1

    Devotees describe the Lord’s transcendental activities in their prayers. Here Lord Boar flies through the sky, scattering clouds with His hooves and glittering white tusks.

  2. 2

    His body expanded throughout the sky, and His glance illuminated it like the sun or moon. The purport describes Him as both mountainlike and the sustainer of the earth.

  3. 3

    Jayadeva glorifies Lord Keśava, Kṛṣṇa, who appeared as the boar. The earth held between His tusks appeared like the marks on the moon.

Key points from the purport
  • When the Lord is offered prayers by His devotees, His transcendental activities are described.
  • The Lord is described herein as mahīdhraḥ, which means either a “big mountain” or the “sustainer of the earth.”
  • In other words, the Lord’s body was as big and hard as the Himālayan Mountains; otherwise how was it possible that He kept the entire earth on the support of His white tusks?

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. utkṣipta-vālaḥslashing with the tail
  2. kha-caraḥin the sky
  3. kaṭhoraḥvery hard
  4. saṭāḥhairs on the shoulder
  5. vidhunvanquivering
  6. kharasharp
  7. romaśa-tvakskin full of hairs
  8. khura-āhatastruck by the hooves
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 3.13

    In this verse: “rescue”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotees”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 3.13

    In this verse: “glorifies”

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

Which feature of the Lord’s care for the earth inspires me to praise Him?

Practice

Offer one sentence of praise to Lord Keśava for sustaining the earth.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayLord Keśava Sustains the EarthThis 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 3.13.27? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories