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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.
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Canto 3 · Chapter 17: Victory of Hiraṇyākṣa Over All the Directions of the Universe
3.17.273.17.29

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.17.28

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
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

त्वं लोकपालोऽधिपतिर्बृहच्छ्रवा

वीर्यापहो दुर्मदवीरमानिनाम् ।

विजित्य लोकेऽखिलदैत्यदानवान्

यद्राजसूयेन पुरायजत्प्रभो ॥ २८ ॥

tvaṁ loka-pālo ’dhipatir bṛhac-chravā

vīryāpaho durmada-vīra-māninām

vijitya loke ’khila-daitya-dānavān

yad rājasūyena purāyajat prabho

Translation

You are the guardian of an entire sphere and a ruler of wide fame. Having crushed the might of arrogant and conceited warriors and having conquered all the Daityas and Dānavas in the world, you once performed a Rājasūya sacrifice to the Lord.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Victory Followed by Worship of the Lord

  1. 1

    Hiraṇyākṣa described Varuṇa as the guardian of an entire sphere and a ruler of wide fame.

  2. 2

    Varuṇa had crushed the might of arrogant warriors and conquered all the Daityas and Dānavas in the world.

  3. 3

    After these victories, Varuṇa had performed a Rājasūya sacrifice to the Lord.

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. tvamyou (Varuṇa)
  2. loka-pālaḥguardian of the planet
  3. adhipatiḥa ruler
  4. bṛhat-śravāḥof wide fame
  5. vīryathe power
  6. apahaḥdiminished
  7. durmadaof the proud
  8. vīra-mānināmthinking themselves very big heroes
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Īśānukathā · The science of God

    Who is the Lord, and how do His devotees live? · Subject 7 of 10

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

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

    In this verse: “guardian”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 3.17

    In this verse: “ruler”

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 my achievements leave room for worship of the Lord?

Practice

Set aside a brief moment today to worship the Lord rather than dwell on a personal achievement.

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 todayVictory Followed by Worship of the LordThis 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 3.17.28? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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