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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
3.17.43.17.6

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.17.5

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

ववौ वायु: सुदु:स्पर्श: फूत्कारानीरयन्मुहु: ।

उन्मूलयन्नगपतीन्वात्यानीको रजोध्वज: ॥ ५ ॥

vavau vāyuḥ suduḥsparśaḥ

phūt-kārān īrayan muhuḥ

unmūlayan naga-patīn

vātyānīko rajo-dhvajaḥ

Translation

There blew winds which were most uninviting to the touch, hissing again and again and uprooting gigantic trees. They had storms for their armies and clouds of dust for their ensigns.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Violent Winds and Sinful Activity

  1. 1

    Harsh winds hissed repeatedly and uprooted gigantic trees. Storms were described as their armies and dust clouds as their ensigns.

  2. 2

    Śrīla Prabhupāda connects cyclones, excessive heat or snowfall, and uprooted trees with an increase in the demoniac population.

  3. 3

    The purport links these disturbances with people being accustomed to forbidden, sinful activity.

Key points from the purport
  • When there are natural disturbances like blowing cyclones, too much heat or snowfall, and uprooting of trees by hurricanes, it is to be understood that the demoniac population is increasing and so the natural disturbance is also taking place.
  • There is insufficient sunshine, and there are always clouds in the sky, snowfall and severe cold.
  • These assure that such places are inhabited by demoniac people who are accustomed to all kinds of forbidden, sinful activity.

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. vavaublew
  2. vāyuḥthe winds
  3. su-duḥsparśaḥunpleasant to touch
  4. phūt-kārānhissing sounds
  5. īrayangiving out
  6. muhuḥagain and again
  7. unmūlayanuprooting
  8. naga-patīngigantic trees
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

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 3.17

    In this verse: “sinful”

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

Does reflecting on this purport make me more careful about my own conduct?

Practice

Identify one wrong action you are tempted to excuse, and make a deliberate effort to avoid it today.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayViolent Winds and Sinful ActivityThis 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 3.17.5? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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