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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
3.17.253.17.27

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.17.26

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

स वर्षपूगानुदधौ महाबल-

श्चरन्महोर्मीञ्‍छ्वसनेरितान्मुहु: ।

मौर्व्याभिजघ्ने गदया विभावरी-

मासेदिवांस्तात पुरीं प्रचेतस: ॥ २६ ॥

sa varṣa-pūgān udadhau mahā-balaś

caran mahormīñ chvasaneritān muhuḥ

maurvyābhijaghne gadayā vibhāvarīm

āsedivāṁs tāta purīṁ pracetasaḥ

Translation

Moving about in the ocean for many, many years, the mighty Hiraṇyākṣa smote the gigantic wind-tossed waves again and again with his iron mace and reached Vibhāvarī, the capital of Varuṇa.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Varuṇa Rules the Watery Kingdom

  1. 1

    Hiraṇyākṣa moved about in the ocean for many, many years.

  2. 2

    He repeatedly struck the gigantic wind-tossed waves with his iron mace.

  3. 3

    He reached Vibhāvarī, Varuṇa’s capital within the watery kingdom. Varuṇa is described as the predominating deity of the waters.

Key points from the purport
  • Varuṇa is supposed to be the predominating deity of the waters, and his capital, which is known as Vibhāvarī, is within the watery kingdom.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. saḥhe
  2. varṣa-pūgānfor many years
  3. udadhauin the ocean
  4. mahā-balaḥmighty
  5. caranmoving
  6. mahā-ūrmīngigantic waves
  7. śvasanaby the wind
  8. īritāntossed
3

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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 3.17

    In this verse: “kingdom”

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 description tell me about Varuṇa’s place and responsibility?

Practice

Write one sentence identifying Varuṇa’s domain and the name of his capital.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayVaruṇa Rules the Watery KingdomThis 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 3.17.26? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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