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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
3.17.263.17.28

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.17.27

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

तत्रोपलभ्यासुरलोकपालकं

यादोगणानामृषभं प्रचेतसम् ।

स्मयन् प्रलब्धुं प्रणिपत्य नीचव-

ज्जगाद मे देह्यधिराज संयुगम ॥ २७ ॥

tatropalabhyāsura-loka-pālakaṁ

yādo-gaṇānām ṛṣabhaṁ pracetasam

smayan pralabdhuṁ praṇipatya nīcavaj

jagāda me dehy adhirāja saṁyugam

Translation

Vibhāvarī is the home of Varuṇa, lord of the aquatic creatures and guardian of the lower regions of the universe, where the demons generally reside. There Hiraṇyākṣa fell at Varuṇa’s feet like a lowborn man, and to make fun of him he said with a smile, “Give me battle, O Supreme Lord!”

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Mock Respect Conceals a Fighting Spirit

  1. 1

    Varuṇa is lord of the aquatic creatures and guardian of the lower regions, where demons generally reside.

  2. 2

    Hiraṇyākṣa fell at Varuṇa’s feet, but his purpose was mockery. Smiling, he demanded a battle.

  3. 3

    The demoniac person challenges others and tries to take their property by force. Hiraṇyākṣa displayed this challenging spirit by demanding war from someone who did not want to fight.

Key points from the purport
  • The demoniac person always challenges others and tries to occupy others’ property by force.
  • Here these symptoms are fully displayed by Hiraṇyākṣa, who begged war from a person who had no desire to fight.

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. tatrathere
  2. upalabhyahaving reached
  3. asura-lokaof the regions where the demons reside
  4. pālakamthe guardian
  5. yādaḥ-gaṇānāmof the aquatic creatures
  6. ṛṣabhamthe lord
  7. pracetasamVaruṇa
  8. smayansmiling
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

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 3.17

    In this verse: “guardian”

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

Are my respectful words sincere, or do they sometimes hide a wish to provoke?

Practice

Offer one sincere expression of respect today, without sarcasm or a hidden challenge.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayMock Respect Conceals a Fighting SpiritThis 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 3.17.27? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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