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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
3.13.363.13.38

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.13.37

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

दीक्षानुजन्मोपसद: शिरोधरं

त्वं प्रायणीयोदयनीयदंष्ट्र: ।

जिह्वा प्रवर्ग्यस्तव शीर्षकं क्रतो:

सत्यावसथ्यं चितयोऽसवो हि ते ॥ ३७ ॥

dīkṣānujanmopasadaḥ śirodharaṁ

tvaṁ prāyaṇīyodayanīya-daṁṣṭraḥ

jihvā pravargyas tava śīrṣakaṁ kratoḥ

satyāvasathyaṁ citayo ’savo hi te

Translation

Moreover, O Lord, the repetition of Your appearance is the desire for all kinds of initiation. Your neck is the place for three desires, and Your tusks are the result of initiation and the end of all desires. Your tongue is the prior activities of initiation, Your head is the fire without sacrifice as well as the fire of worship, and Your living forces are the aggregate of all desires.

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.

Initiation and Sacrifice Rest in the Lord

  1. 1

    The Lord’s repeated appearance is described as the desire for all kinds of initiation. His neck is the place for three desires.

  2. 2

    His tusks are the result of initiation and the end of all desires. His tongue is the prior activities of initiation.

  3. 3

    His head is described as both the fire without sacrifice and the fire of worship. His living forces are the aggregate of all desires.

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. dīkṣāinitiation
  2. anujanmaspiritual birth, or repeated incarnations
  3. upasadaḥthree kinds of desires (relationship, activities and ultimate goal)
  4. śiraḥ-dharamthe neck
  5. tvamYou
  6. prāyaṇīyaafter the result of initiation
  7. udayanīyathe last rites of desires
  8. daṁṣṭraḥthe tusks
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “worship”

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 does this prayer help you see initiation and worship in relation to the Lord?

Practice

Read this verse aloud once as a prayer, giving careful attention to one of its descriptions.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayInitiation and Sacrifice Rest in the 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.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 3.13.37? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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