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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
3.13.323.13.34

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.13.33

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

तमालनीलं सितदन्तकोट्या

क्ष्मामुत्क्षिपन्तं गजलीलयाङ्ग ।

प्रज्ञाय बद्धाञ्जलयोऽनुवाकै-

र्विरिञ्चिमुख्या उपतस्थुरीशम् ॥ ३३ ॥

tamāla-nīlaṁ sita-danta-koṭyā

kṣmām utkṣipantaṁ gaja-līlayāṅga

prajñāya baddhāñjalayo ’nuvākair

viriñci-mukhyā upatasthur īśam

Translation

Then the Lord, playing like an elephant, suspended the earth on the edge of His curved white tusks. He assumed a bluish complexion like that of a tamāla tree, and thus the sages, headed by Brahmā, could understand Him to be the Supreme Personality of Godhead and offered respectful obeisances unto the Lord.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Sages Recognize the Supreme Lord

  1. 1

    The Lord held the earth on the edge of His curved white tusks. His movement was playful, like that of an elephant.

  2. 2

    He assumed a bluish complexion like a tamāla tree.

  3. 3

    The sages, headed by Brahmā, understood Him to be the Supreme Personality of Godhead. They offered Him respectful obeisances.

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. tamālaa blue tree named the tamāla
  2. nīlambluish
  3. sitawhite
  4. dantatusks
  5. koṭyāwith the curved edge
  6. kṣmāmthe earth
  7. utkṣipantamwhile suspending
  8. gaja-līlayāplaying like an elephant
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

  • Jñāna · Spiritual insight

    Inquiry, revelation and discrimination between self and matter. · Theme in SB 3.13

    In this verse: “understand”

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

How can the sages’ respectful response guide your own response to the Lord?

Practice

Offer one respectful obeisance to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Sages Recognize the Supreme LordThis 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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