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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
3.13.403.13.42

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.13.41

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

त्रयीमयं रूपमिदं च सौकरं

भूमण्डलेनाथ दता धृतेन ते ।

चकास्ति श‍ृङ्गोढघनेन भूयसा

कुलाचलेन्द्रस्य यथैव विभ्रम: ॥ ४१ ॥

trayīmayaṁ rūpam idaṁ ca saukaraṁ

bhū-maṇḍalenātha datā dhṛtena te

cakāsti śṛṅgoḍha-ghanena bhūyasā

kulācalendrasya yathaiva vibhramaḥ

Translation

O Lord, as the peaks of great mountains become beautiful when decorated with clouds, Your transcendental body has become beautiful because of Your lifting the earth on the edge of Your tusks.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord’s Beauty in Sustaining the Earth

  1. 1

    The earth on the Lord’s tusks beautifies His transcendental body, just as clouds decorate the peaks of great mountains.

  2. 2

    The word vibhramaḥ means both “illusion” and “beauty.” The Lord has no need to sustain the earth on His tusks, yet His doing so makes the world beautiful.

  3. 3

    The Lord is the transcendental personification of the Vedic hymns. His appearance to sustain the earth adds to His beauty, as do His pure devotees on earth.

Key points from the purport
  • When a cloud rests on the peak of a great mountain, it appears to be sustained by the mountain, and at the same time it looks very beautiful.
  • Similarly, the Lord has no need to sustain the earth on His tusks, but when He does so the world becomes beautiful, just as the Lord becomes more beautiful because of His pure devotees on the earth.
  • Although the Lord is the transcendental personification of the Vedic hymns, He has become more beautiful because of His appearance to sustain the earth.

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. trayī-mayamVedas personified
  2. rūpamform
  3. idamthis
  4. caalso
  5. saukaramthe boar
  6. bhū-maṇḍalenaby the earth planet
  7. athanow
  8. datāby the tusk
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 3.13

    In this verse: “illusion”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotees”

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 description help me appreciate the Lord’s beauty in caring for the earth?

Practice

Read the translation slowly once, contemplating the beauty of the Lord holding the earth on His tusks.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord’s Beauty in Sustaining 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 3.13.41? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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