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

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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.
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Canto 3 · Chapter 13: The Appearance of Lord Varāha
3.13.303.13.32

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.13.31

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

स्वदंष्ट्रयोद्‍धृत्य महीं निमग्नां

स उत्थित: संरुरुचे रसाया: ।

तत्रापि दैत्यं गदयापतन्तं

सुनाभसन्दीपिततीव्रमन्यु: ॥ ३१ ॥

sva-daṁṣṭrayoddhṛtya mahīṁ nimagnāṁ

sa utthitaḥ saṁruruce rasāyāḥ

tatrāpi daityaṁ gadayāpatantaṁ

sunābha-sandīpita-tīvra-manyuḥ

Translation

Lord Boar very easily took the earth on His tusks and got it out of the water. Thus He appeared very splendid. Then, His anger glowing like the Sudarśana wheel, He immediately killed the demon [Hiraṇyākṣa], although he tried to fight with the Lord.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Easily Lifts the Earth

  1. 1

    Lord Boar easily lifted the earth from the water on His tusks. He appeared splendid and immediately killed the demon Hiraṇyākṣa when he tried to fight.

  2. 2

    Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī explains that Lord Varāha appears in two different devastations: Cākṣuṣa and Svāyambhuva. This particular appearance took place in the Svāyambhuva devastation.

  3. 3

    The inhabitants of Jana, Mahar and Satya witnessed this incarnation. Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī suggests that Maitreya combined accounts of both appearances in his description to Vidura.

Key points from the purport
  • According to Śrīla Jīva Gosvāmī, the Vedic literatures describe the incarnation of Lord Varāha (Boar) in two different devastations, namely the Cākṣuṣa devastation and the Svāyambhuva devastation.
  • This particular appearance of the boar incarnation actually took place in the Svāyambhuva devastation, when all planets other than the higher ones — Jana, Mahar and Satya — merged in the water of devastation.
  • Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī suggests that the sage Maitreya amalgamated both the boar incarnations in different devastations and summarized them in his description to Vidura.

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. sva-daṁṣṭrayāby His own tusks
  2. uddhṛtyaraising
  3. mahīmthe earth
  4. nimagnāmsubmerged
  5. saḥHe
  6. utthitaḥgetting up
  7. saṁruruceappeared very splendid
  8. rasāyāḥfrom the water
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

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 stands out to you about the ease with which the Lord lifted the earth?

Practice

Read the translation slowly once, pausing to appreciate the Lord’s effortless power.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Easily Lifts 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.

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