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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
3.17.243.17.26

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.17.25

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

तस्मिन् प्रविष्टे वरुणस्य सैनिका

यादोगणा: सन्नधिय: ससाध्वसा: ।

अहन्यमाना अपि तस्य वर्चसा

प्रधर्षिता दूरतरं प्रदुद्रुवु: ॥ २५ ॥

tasmin praviṣṭe varuṇasya sainikā

yādo-gaṇāḥ sanna-dhiyaḥ sasādhvasāḥ

ahanyamānā api tasya varcasā

pradharṣitā dūrataraṁ pradudruvuḥ

Translation

On his entering the ocean, the aquatic animals who formed the host of Varuṇa were stricken with fear and ran far away. Thus Hiraṇyākṣa showed his splendor without dealing a blow.

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

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Demoniac Power Spreads Fear

  1. 1

    Materialistic demons sometimes appear very powerful and establish their supremacy throughout the world.

  2. 2

    Hiraṇyākṣa appeared to establish supremacy throughout the universe by his demoniac strength. The demigods feared his uncommon power.

  3. 3

    Even Varuṇa’s aquatic animals fled far away in fear. Hiraṇyākṣa displayed his splendor without dealing a blow.

Key points from the purport
  • Materialistic demons sometimes appear to be very powerful and are seen to establish their supremacy throughout the world.
  • Here also it appears that Hiraṇyākṣa, by his demoniac strength, actually established his supremacy throughout the universe, and the demigods were afraid of his uncommon power.
  • Not only were the demigods in space afraid of the demons Hiraṇyakaśipu and Hiraṇyākṣa, but so also were the aquatic animals within the sea.

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. tasmin praviṣṭewhen he entered the ocean
  2. varuṇasyaof Varuṇa
  3. sainikāḥthe defenders
  4. yādaḥ-gaṇāḥthe aquatic animals
  5. sanna-dhiyaḥdepressed
  6. sa-sādhvasāḥwith fear
  7. ahanyamānāḥnot being hit
  8. apieven
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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: “fear”, “feared”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “materialistic”

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

How might my behavior frighten others even when I do not physically harm them?

Practice

In one interaction today, deliberately avoid an intimidating tone or gesture.

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 todayDemoniac Power Spreads FearThis 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 3.17.25? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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