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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 14: Pregnancy of Diti in the Evening
3.14.13.14.3

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.14.2

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Vidurasince 3.14.2inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

विदुर उवाच

तेनैव तु मुनिश्रेष्ठ हरिणा यज्ञमूर्तिना ।

आदिदैत्यो हिरण्याक्षो हत इत्यनुशुश्रुम ॥ २ ॥

vidura uvāca

tenaiva tu muni-śreṣṭha

hariṇā yajña-mūrtinā

ādi-daityo hiraṇyākṣo

hata ity anuśuśruma

Translation

Śrī Vidura said: O chief amongst the great sages, I have heard by disciplic succession that Hiraṇyākṣa, the original demon, was slain by the same form of sacrifices, the Personality of Godhead [Lord Boar].

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Two Boar Incarnations, One Supreme Lord

  1. 1

    Vidura had heard through disciplic succession that Lord Boar, the Personality of Godhead and form of sacrifices, killed Hiraṇyākṣa.

  2. 2

    In the Svāyambhuva millennium, the Lord appeared as a white boar and lifted the earth from the waters. In the Cākṣuṣa millennium, He appeared as a red boar and killed Hiraṇyākṣa.

  3. 3

    These two boar incarnations are the one Supreme Personality of Godhead. Vidura had heard about one and wished to hear about the other.

Key points from the purport
  • As referred to previously, the boar incarnation was manifested in two millenniums, namely Svāyambhuva and Cākṣuṣa.
  • In both millenniums there was a boar incarnation of the Lord, but in the Svāyambhuva millennium He lifted the earth from within the water of the universe, whereas in the Cākṣuṣa millennium He killed the first demon, Hiraṇyākṣa.
  • The two different boar incarnations described are the one Supreme Personality of Godhead.

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 14: Pregnancy of Diti in the Evening

Diti desires sons, her husband performs a forbidden act, and their sons’ destruction by the Lord is foretold.

Back to this verse in chapter 3.14
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. viduraḥ uvācaŚrī Vidura said
  2. tenaby Him
  3. evacertainly
  4. tubut
  5. muni-śreṣṭhaO chief among the sages
  6. hariṇāby the Personality of Godhead
  7. yajña-mūrtināthe form of sacrifices
  8. ādioriginal
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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 3.14

    In this verse: “heard”

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

What does this teaching help me understand about the Lord’s different appearances?

Practice

Write one sentence noting that both boar incarnations are the one Supreme Personality of Godhead.

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayTwo Boar Incarnations, One 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.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 3.14.2? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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