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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
3.17.193.17.21

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.17.20

Ūti· What drives us to act
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

हिरण्याक्षोऽनुजस्तस्य प्रिय: प्रीतिकृदन्वहम् ।

गदापाणिर्दिवं यातो युयुत्सुर्मृगयन् रणम् ॥ २० ॥

hiraṇyākṣo ’nujas tasya

priyaḥ prīti-kṛd anvaham

gadā-pāṇir divaṁ yāto

yuyutsur mṛgayan raṇam

Translation

His younger brother, Hiraṇyākṣa, was always ready to satisfy his elder brother by his activities. Hiraṇyākṣa took a club on his shoulder and traveled all over the universe with a fighting spirit just to satisfy Hiraṇyakaśipu.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Engage Everything in the Lord’s Service

  1. 1

    Hiraṇyākṣa traveled through the universe with a club and a fighting spirit to satisfy Hiraṇyakaśipu.

  2. 2

    The demoniac spirit trains family members to exploit the universe’s resources for personal sense gratification. Hiraṇyakaśipu strengthened his brother to help him fight and lord it over material nature.

  3. 3

    The godly spirit is to engage everything in the service of the Lord. Service, rather than exploitation and domination, is the guiding aim.

Key points from the purport
  • The demoniac spirit is to train all family members to exploit the resources of this universe for personal sense gratification, whereas the godly spirit is to engage everything in the service of the Lord.
  • Hiraṇyakaśipu was himself very powerful, and he made his younger brother, Hiraṇyākṣa, powerful to assist him in fighting with everyone and lording it over material nature as long as possible.
  • These are demonstrations of the spirit of the demoniac living entity.

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. hiraṇyākṣaḥHiraṇyākṣa
  2. anujaḥyounger brother
  3. tasyahis
  4. priyaḥbeloved
  5. prīti-kṛtready to please
  6. anu-ahamevery day
  7. gadā-pāṇiḥwith a club in hand
  8. divamto the higher planets
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Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Ūti · The creative impetus

    Why do we act, and what keeps us bound? · Subject 5 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “sense gratification”, “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

Do I use my abilities and relationships for personal gratification or for the Lord’s service?

Practice

Use one resource you have today—time, strength or a possession—in a small act of devotional service to the Lord.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 3.17's connections

Live this todayEngage Everything in the Lord’s ServiceThis 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 3.17.20? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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