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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
3.18.163.18.18

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.18.17

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 3.18.13inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

ततश्च गदयारातिं दक्षिणस्यां भ्रुवि प्रभु: ।

आजघ्ने स तु तां सौम्य गदया कोविदोऽहनत् ॥ १७ ॥

tataś ca gadayārātiṁ

dakṣiṇasyāṁ bhruvi prabhuḥ

ājaghne sa tu tāṁ saumya

gadayā kovido ’hanat

Translation

Then with His mace the Lord struck the enemy on the right of his brow, but since the demon was expert in fighting, O gentle Vidura, he protected himself by a maneuver of his own mace.

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.

The Demon Skillfully Defends Himself

  1. 1

    The Lord directs a mace-blow toward the right side of the enemy's brow.

  2. 2

    The demon is expert in fighting and responds with a maneuver of his own mace.

  3. 3

    Through this maneuver, the demon protects himself from the Lord's blow.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tataḥthen
  2. caand
  3. gadayāwith His mace
  4. arātimthe enemy
  5. dakṣiṇasyāmon the right
  6. bhruvion the brow
  7. prabhuḥthe Lord
  8. ājaghnestruck
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 3.18

    In this verse: “protected”, “protects”

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

Am I noticing the precise details of the Lord's battle as I read?

Practice

Reread this translation and describe its exchange of attack and defense in one sentence.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Demon Skillfully Defends HimselfThis 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 3.18.17? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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