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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
3.17.33.17.5

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.17.4

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

सहाचला भुवश्चेलुर्दिश: सर्वा:

प्रजज्वलु: ।

सोल्काश्चाशनय: पेतु: केतवश्चार्तिहेतव: ॥ ४ ॥

sahācalā bhuvaś celur

diśaḥ sarvāḥ prajajvaluḥ

solkāś cāśanayaḥ petuḥ

ketavaś cārti-hetavaḥ

Translation

There were earthquakes along the mountains on the earth, and it appeared that there was fire everywhere. Many inauspicious planets like Saturn appeared, along with comets, meteors and thunderbolts.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Natural Disturbances and Demoniac Birth

  1. 1

    Earthquakes shook the earth and its mountains, and it appeared that fire was everywhere.

  2. 2

    Inauspicious planets like Saturn appeared, along with comets, meteors and thunderbolts.

  3. 3

    Śrīla Prabhupāda connects natural disturbances with the birth of demons. He explains that disturbances increase as the number of demoniac people increases.

Key points from the purport
  • When natural disturbances occur on a planet, one should understand that a demon must have taken birth there.
  • In the present age the number of demoniac people is increasing; therefore natural disturbances are also increasing.
  • There is no doubt about this, as we can understand from the statements of the Bhāgavatam.

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. sahaalong with
  2. acalāḥthe mountains
  3. bhuvaḥof the earth
  4. celuḥshook
  5. diśaḥdirections
  6. sarvāḥall
  7. prajajvaluḥblazed like fire
  8. sawith
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

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 connection does the purport ask me to notice between demoniac life and natural disturbances?

Practice

Write one sentence summarizing the purport’s explanation of these disturbances.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayNatural Disturbances and Demoniac BirthThis 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 3.17.4? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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