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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
3.13.473.13.49

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.13.48

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
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

य एवमेतां हरिमेधसो हरे: ।

कथां सुभद्रां कथनीयमायिन: ।

श‍ृण्वीत भक्त्या श्रवयेत वोशतीं

जनार्दनोऽस्याशु हृदि प्रसीदति ॥ ४८ ॥

ya evam etāṁ hari-medhaso hareḥ

kathāṁ subhadrāṁ kathanīya-māyinaḥ

śṛṇvīta bhaktyā śravayeta vośatīṁ

janārdano ’syāśu hṛdi prasīdati

Translation

If one hears and describes in a devotional service attitude this auspicious narration of Lord Boar, which is worthy of description, the Lord, who is within the heart of everyone, is very pleased.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Devotional Hearing Pleases the Lord

  1. 1

    The histories of the Lord’s appearances and activities are as transcendental as He Himself. He leaves these narrations out of His causeless mercy.

  2. 2

    The living entity is spirit soul, so material stories cannot provide the transcendental benefit found in narrations of the Lord’s activities.

  3. 3

    Hearing these narrations and helping others hear them in a devotional attitude pleases the Lord within everyone’s heart. Such hearing destroys the pangs of material existence.

Key points from the purport
  • In His various incarnations, the Lord appears, acts and leaves behind Him a narrative history which is as transcendental as He Himself.
  • Every one of us is fond of hearing some wonderful narration, but most stories are neither auspicious nor worth hearing because they are of the inferior quality of material nature.
  • Out of His causeless mercy only, the Lord comes to this earth and leaves behind His merciful activities so that the devotees may derive transcendental benefit.

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. yaḥone who
  2. evamthus
  3. etāmthis
  4. hari-medhasaḥwho destroys the material existence of the devotee
  5. hareḥof the Personality of Godhead
  6. kathāmnarration
  7. su-bhadrāmauspicious
  8. kathanīyaworthy to narrate
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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 3.13

    In this verse: “narration”, “hearing”, “narrations”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotional”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 3.13

    In this verse: “mercy”, “causeless”

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

Am I hearing about the Lord with a desire to please Him?

Practice

Read aloud a short passage about Lord Boar with a devotional attitude, letting someone else hear if possible.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDevotional Hearing Pleases 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 3.13.48? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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