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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
3.13.463.13.48

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.13.47

Sthāna· The universe in order
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 3.13.46inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

स इत्थं भगवानुर्वीं विष्वक्सेन: प्रजापति: ।

रसाया लीलयोन्नीतामप्सु न्यस्य ययौ हरि: ॥ ४७ ॥

sa itthaṁ bhagavān urvīṁ

viṣvaksenaḥ prajāpatiḥ

rasāyā līlayonnītām

apsu nyasya yayau hariḥ

Translation

In this manner the Personality of Godhead, Lord Viṣṇu, the maintainer of all living entities, raised the earth from within the water, and having placed it afloat on the water, He returned to His own abode.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Descends by His Will

  1. 1

    Lord Viṣṇu, the Personality of Godhead and maintainer of all living entities, raised the earth and placed it afloat on the water.

  2. 2

    The Lord descends by His own will in innumerable incarnations for particular purposes, then returns to His own abode. Avatāra means “one who descends.”

  3. 3

    Neither the Lord nor His specific devotees who come to earth are ordinary living entities like us.

Key points from the purport
  • The Personality of Godhead, Lord Viṣṇu, descends by His will to the material planets in His innumerable incarnations for particular purposes, and again He goes back to His own abode.
  • When He descends He is called an avatāra because avatāra means “one who descends.”
  • Neither the Lord Himself nor His specific devotees who come to this earth are ordinary living entities like us.

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. saḥHe
  2. itthamin this manner
  3. bhagavānthe Personality of Godhead
  4. urvīmthe earth
  5. viṣvaksenaḥanother name of Viṣṇu
  6. prajā-patiḥthe Lord of the living entities
  7. rasāyāḥfrom within the water
  8. līlayāvery easily
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Sthāna · Planetary systems

    How is the universe arranged, and what is our right place in it? · Subject 3 of 10

  • 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 knowing that the Lord descends by His own will deepen my respect for Him?

Practice

Read the translation once and offer a brief prayer of appreciation to Lord Viṣṇu as the maintainer of living beings.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Descends by His WillThis 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 3.13.47? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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