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Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

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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
3.17.73.17.9

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.17.8

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

मुहु: परिधयोऽभूवन् सराह्वो: शशिसूर्ययो: ।

निर्घाता रथनिर्ह्रादा विवरेभ्य: प्रजज्ञिरे ॥ ८ ॥

muhuḥ paridhayo ’bhūvan

sarāhvoḥ śaśi-sūryayoḥ

nirghātā ratha-nirhrādā

vivarebhyaḥ prajajñire

Translation

Misty halos appeared around the sun and the moon during solar and lunar eclipses again and again. Claps of thunder were heard even without clouds, and sounds like those of rattling chariots emerged from the mountain caves.

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.

Unusual Signs in Sky and Mountains

  1. 1

    Misty halos appeared around the sun and moon during repeated solar and lunar eclipses.

  2. 2

    Claps of thunder were heard even without clouds.

  3. 3

    Sounds resembling rattling chariots emerged from mountain caves.

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. muhuḥagain and again
  2. paridhayaḥmisty halos
  3. abhūvanappeared
  4. sa-rāhvoḥduring eclipses
  5. śaśiof the moon
  6. sūryayoḥof the sun
  7. nirghātāḥclaps of thunder
  8. ratha-nirhrādāḥsounds like those of rattling chariots
  9. vivarebhyaḥfrom the mountain caves
  10. prajajñirewere produced
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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 3.17

    In this verse: “heard”

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

Which detail most clearly conveys the unusual nature of these events to me?

Practice

Separate the verse’s signs into two short lists: things seen and things heard.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayUnusual Signs in Sky and MountainsThis 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 3.17.8? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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