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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 18: The Battle Between Lord Boar and the Demon Hiraṇyākṣa
3.18.193.18.21

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.18.20

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

दैत्यस्य यज्ञावयवस्य माया-

गृहीतवाराहतनोर्महात्मन: ।

कौरव्य मह्यां द्विषतोर्विमर्दनं

दिद‍ृक्षुरागाद‍ृषिभिर्वृत: स्वराट् ॥ २० ॥

daityasya yajñāvayavasya māyā-

gṛhīta-vārāha-tanor mahātmanaḥ

kauravya mahyāṁ dviṣator vimardanaṁ

didṛkṣur āgād ṛṣibhir vṛtaḥ svarāṭ

Translation

O descendant of Kuru, Brahmā, the most independent demigod of the universe, accompanied by his followers, came to see the terrible fight for the sake of the world between the demon and the Personality of Godhead, who appeared in the form of a boar.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord's Boar Form Is Transcendental

  1. 1

    Brahmā and his followers come to see the fight for the sake of the world. The purport describes the constant struggle for supremacy over the earth between demons and the Supreme Lord or His representative.

  2. 2

    The Lord's boar form is not an ordinary animal body; His body is not material and is full of yajña, or worshipful offerings. He possesses His forms eternally, and all other forms emanate from Him.

  3. 3

    Full independence belongs only to the Lord; living entities possess a minute quantity. Brahmā has greater independence than other living entities and presides over universal affairs as the representative of Kṛṣṇa, the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Key points from the purport
  • The fight between the Lord, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, and the demon is compared to a fight between bulls for the sake of a cow.
  • As bulls fight between themselves to ascertain who will have union with a cow, there is always a constant fight between the demons and the Supreme Lord or His representative for supremacy over the earth.
  • One should not consider the Lord to have the body of an ordinary boar.

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
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. daityasyaof the demon
  2. yajña-avayavasyaof the Personality of Godhead (of whose body yajña is a part)
  3. māyāthrough His potency
  4. gṛhītawas assumed
  5. vārāhaof a boar
  6. tanoḥwhose form
  7. mahā-ātmanaḥof the Supreme Lord
  8. kauravyaO Vidura (descendant of Kuru)
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 3.18

    In this verse: “material”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 3.18

    In this verse: “worshipful”

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 can I use my small measure of independence to choose worship of the Supreme Lord?

Practice

Offer a brief prayer to the Lord today, remembering that His boar form is transcendental, not material.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord's Boar Form Is TranscendentalThis 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 3.18.20? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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