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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 17: Victory of Hiraṇyākṣa Over All the Directions of the Universe
3.17.153.17.17

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.17.16

Visarga· Brahmā's creation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 3.17.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

तावादिदैत्यौ सहसा व्यज्यमानात्मपौरुषौ ।

ववृधातेऽश्मसारेण कायेनाद्रिपती इव ॥ १६ ॥

tāv ādi-daityau sahasā

vyajyamānātma-pauruṣau

vavṛdhāte ’śma-sāreṇa

kāyenādri-patī iva

Translation

These two demons who appeared in ancient times soon began to exhibit uncommon bodily features; they had steel-like frames which began to grow just like two great mountains.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Spiritual Upliftment Is More Than Bodily Strength

  1. 1

    Demigods concern themselves with the spiritual upliftment of human society, whereas demons concern themselves with physical and material upliftment.

  2. 2

    Diti’s sons developed bodies as strong as iron frames and wore valuable ornaments. They considered this success in life.

  3. 3

    Jaya and Vijaya were to play the part of being angry with the Supreme Personality of Godhead. As demons, they concerned themselves with physical comforts rather than with Him.

Key points from the purport
  • The demigods concern themselves with the spiritual upliftment of human society, whereas the demons are concerned with physical and material upliftment.
  • The two demons born of Diti began to make their bodies as strong as iron frames, and they were so tall that they seemed to touch outer space.
  • As demoniac persons, they became so angry that they were not concerned with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, but simply with physical comforts and physical upliftment.

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 17: Victory of Hiraṇyākṣa Over All the Directions of the Universe

Terrible omens accompany the demons’ appearance, and Hiraṇyākṣa spreads fear through his strength and pride.

Back to this verse in chapter 3.17
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tauthose two
  2. ādi-daityaudemons in the beginning of creation
  3. sahasāquickly
  4. vyajyamānabeing manifest
  5. ātmaown
  6. pauruṣauprowess
  7. vavṛdhātegrew
  8. aśma-sāreṇasteel-like
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Visarga · Subcreation

    How do living beings and their worlds appear? · Subject 2 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 3.17

    In this verse: “material”

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

Does my idea of success leave room for spiritual upliftment, or only bodily comfort and appearance?

Practice

Set aside a few minutes today to study this purport instead of attending to a nonessential physical comfort.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySpiritual Upliftment Is More Than Bodily StrengthThis 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 3.17.16? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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