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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 18: The Battle Between Lord Boar and the Demon Hiraṇyākṣa
3.17.313.18.2

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.18.1

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 3.18.1inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

मैत्रेय उवाच

तदेवमाकर्ण्य जलेशभाषितं

महामनास्तद्विगणय्य दुर्मद: ।

हरेर्विदित्वा गतिमङ्ग नारदाद्

रसातलं निर्विविशे त्वरान्वित: ॥ १ ॥

maitreya uvāca

tad evam ākarṇya jaleśa-bhāṣitaṁ

mahā-manās tad vigaṇayya durmadaḥ

harer viditvā gatim aṅga nāradād

rasātalaṁ nirviviśe tvarānvitaḥ

Translation

Maitreya continued: The proud and falsely glorious Daitya paid little heed to the words of Varuṇa. O dear Vidura, he learned from Nārada the whereabouts of the Supreme Personality of Godhead and hurriedly betook himself to the depths of the ocean.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Pride Challenges the Unconquerable Lord

  1. 1

    The proud demon paid little heed to Varuṇa’s words. Learning the Lord’s whereabouts from Nārada, he hurried into the depths of the ocean.

  2. 2

    He eagerly sought a fight with the Supreme Personality of Godhead, even though Varuṇa had predicted his destruction.

  3. 3

    Viṣṇu is known as Ajita, one who has never been conquered. Daring to fight Him shows a lack of intelligence, not true greatness.

Key points from the purport
  • Materialistic warmongers are not even afraid to fight with their mightiest enemy, the Personality of Godhead.
  • The demon was very encouraged to learn from Varuṇa that there was one fighter who could actually combat him, and he was very enthusiastic to search out the Supreme Personality of Godhead just to give Him a fight, even though it was predicted by Varuṇa that by fighting with Viṣṇu he would become prey for dogs, jackals and vultures.
  • Since demoniac persons are less intelligent, they dare to fight with Viṣṇu, who is known as Ajita, or one who has never been conquered.

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 18: The Battle Between Lord Boar and the Demon Hiraṇyākṣa

Hiraṇyākṣa challenges Lord Varāha, who protects the earth and fights him as Brahmā prays for victory.

Back to this verse in chapter 3.18
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. maitreyaḥthe great sage Maitreya
  2. uvācasaid
  3. tatthat
  4. evamthus
  5. ākarṇyahearing
  6. jala-īśaof the controller of water, Varuṇa
  7. bhāṣitamwords
  8. mahā-manāḥproud
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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

  • Dainya · Humility

    Ego yields to insight, service and surrender. · Theme in SB 3.18

    In this verse: “proud”

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

When does pride make it difficult for me to listen to a warning?

Practice

Pause today before dismissing helpful advice, and remember that Viṣṇu is unconquerable.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPride Challenges the Unconquerable 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 3.18.1? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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