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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
3.18.183.18.20

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.18.19

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

तयो: स्पृधोस्तिग्मगदाहताङ्गयो:

क्षतास्रवघ्राणविवृद्धमन्य्वो: ।

विचित्रमार्गांश्चरतोर्जिगीषया

व्यभादिलायामिव शुष्मिणोर्मृध: ॥ १९ ॥

tayoḥ spṛdhos tigma-gadāhatāṅgayoḥ

kṣatāsrava-ghrāṇa-vivṛddha-manyvoḥ

vicitra-mārgāṁś carator jigīṣayā

vyabhād ilāyām iva śuṣmiṇor mṛdhaḥ

Translation

There was keen rivalry between the two combatants; both had sustained injuries on their bodies from the blows of each other’s pointed maces, and each grew more and more enraged at the smell of blood on his person. In their eagerness to win, they performed maneuvers of various kinds, and their contest looked like an encounter between two forceful bulls for the sake of a cow.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
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Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

One Earth, Changing Names and Boundaries

  1. 1

    The combatants grow more enraged from their injuries and perform various maneuvers to win. Their contest resembles two forceful bulls fighting for a cow.

  2. 2

    The purport calls the earth planet ilā and explains that it was formerly known as Ilāvṛta-varṣa. When Mahārāja Parīkṣit ruled, it was called Bhārata-varṣa.

  3. 3

    Bhārata-varṣa actually names the entire planet, although it gradually came to mean India. Over time, the earth became divided by national boundaries.

Key points from the purport
  • This earth was formerly known as Ilāvṛta-varṣa, and when Mahārāja Parīkṣit ruled the earth it was called Bhārata-varṣa.
  • Actually, Bhārata-varṣa is the name for the entire planet, but gradually Bhārata-varṣa has come to mean India.
  • As India has recently been divided into Pakistan and Hindustan, similarly the earth was formerly called Ilāvṛta-varṣa, but gradually as time passed it was divided by national boundaries.

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. tayoḥthem
  2. spṛdhoḥthe two combatants
  3. tigmapointed
  4. gadāby the maces
  5. āhatainjured
  6. aṅgayoḥtheir bodies
  7. kṣata-āsravablood coming out from the injuries
  8. ghrāṇasmell
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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

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

How does learning that Bhārata-varṣa names the whole earth broaden my understanding?

Practice

Write a short note today: “Bhārata-varṣa originally refers to the entire earth, not only India.”

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The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayOne Earth, Changing Names and BoundariesThis 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.

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