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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
3.17.213.17.23

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.17.22

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

मनोवीर्यवरोत्सिक्तमसृण्यमकुतोभयम् ।

भीता निलिल्यिरे देवास्तार्क्ष्यत्रस्ता इवाहय: ॥ २२ ॥

mano-vīrya-varotsiktam

asṛṇyam akuto-bhayam

bhītā nililyire devās

tārkṣya-trastā ivāhayaḥ

Translation

His mental and bodily strength as well as the boon conferred upon him had made him proud. He feared death at the hands of no one, and there was no checking him. The gods, therefore, were seized with fear at his very sight, and they hid themselves even as snakes hide themselves for fear of Garuḍa.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Strength and Boons Can Feed Pride

  1. 1

    Hiraṇyākṣa’s mental and bodily strength, together with his boon, had made him proud.

  2. 2

    Hiraṇyākṣa and Hiraṇyakaśipu had received a boon that no other living entity within the universe could kill them. They were almost immortal and completely fearless.

  3. 3

    The demigods hid at the sight of Hiraṇyākṣa, just as snakes hide for fear of Garuḍa.

Key points from the purport
  • The asuras are generally strongly built, as described here, and therefore their mental condition is very sound, and their prowess is also extraordinary.
  • Hiraṇyākṣa and Hiraṇyakaśipu, having received the boon that they would not be killed by any other living entity within this universe, were almost immortal, and thus they were completely fearless.

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. manaḥ-vīryaby mental and bodily strength
  2. varaby the boon
  3. utsiktamproud
  4. asṛṇyamnot able to be checked
  5. akutaḥ-bhayamfearing no one
  6. bhītāḥfrightened
  7. nililyirehid themselves
  8. devāḥthe demigods
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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

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 3.17

    In this verse: “feared”, “death”, “fearless”

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 3.17

    In this verse: “proud”

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

When I feel strong or secure, does that confidence turn into pride?

Practice

Notice one strength you have, and avoid using it today to intimidate anyone.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

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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 todayStrength and Boons Can Feed PrideThis 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 3.17.22? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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