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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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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
3.13.283.13.30

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.13.29

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

स वज्रकूटाङ्गनिपातवेग-

विशीर्णकुक्षि: स्तनयन्नुदन्वान् ।

उत्सृष्टदीर्घोर्मिभुजैरिवार्त-

श्चुक्रोश यज्ञेश्वर पाहि मेति ॥ २९ ॥

sa vajra-kūṭāṅga-nipāta-vega-

viśīrṇa-kukṣiḥ stanayann udanvān

utsṛṣṭa-dīrghormi-bhujair ivārtaś

cukrośa yajñeśvara pāhi meti

Translation

Diving into the water like a giant mountain, Lord Boar divided the middle of the ocean, and two high waves appeared as the arms of the ocean, which cried loudly as if praying to the Lord, “O Lord of all sacrifices, please do not cut me in two! Kindly give me protection!”

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Ocean Appears to Seek Protection

  1. 1

    Lord Boar plunged into the ocean with a body like a giant mountain, dividing its middle.

  2. 2

    Even the great ocean was disturbed by His descent. It appeared frightened, as though death were imminent.

  3. 3

    Its two high waves appeared like raised arms, and its sound was like a prayer to the Lord of all sacrifices: “Kindly give me protection!”

Key points from the purport
  • Even the great ocean was perturbed by the falling of the mountainlike body of the transcendental boar, and it appeared to be frightened, as if death were imminent.

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. saḥthat
  2. vajra-kūṭa-aṅgabody like a great mountain
  3. nipāta-vegathe force of diving
  4. viśīrṇabifurcating
  5. kukṣiḥthe middle portion
  6. stanayanresounding like
  7. udanvānthe ocean
  8. utsṛṣṭacreating
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: “protection”

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 3.13

    In this verse: “kindly”

  • Viraha · Longing in separation

    Love and remembrance experienced in apparent absence. · Theme in SB 3.13

    In this verse: “cried”

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

What does the ocean’s apparent prayer suggest about turning to the Lord when afraid?

Practice

Offer the verse’s simple prayer today: “Kindly give me protection!”

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Ocean Appears to Seek ProtectionThis 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 3.13.29? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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