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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

1 2 3 4 5 6 7 8 9 10 11 12 13 14 15 16 17 18 19 20 21 22 23 24 25 26 27 28 29 30 31 32 33

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How to study this verse, in six steps

1Chant the verse. Say the Sanskrit slowly and carefully.
2Read the word meanings. Go through each Sanskrit word and its meaning.
3Find the meaning yourself. Before the translation, piece the meaning together from the words.
4Read the translation. Ask: what is the Lord teaching here, and how does it apply to my life?
5Read the purport slowly. Read it two or three times. Don't rush.
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

3.18.20 3.18.22-23

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.18.21

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

आसन्नशौण्डीरमपेतसाध्वसं

कृतप्रतीकारमहार्यविक्रमम् ।

विलक्ष्य दैत्यं भगवान् सहस्रणी-

र्जगाद नारायणमादिसूकरम् ॥ २१ ॥

āsanna-śauṇḍīram apeta-sādhvasaṁ

kṛta-pratīkāram ahārya-vikramam

vilakṣya daityaṁ bhagavān sahasra-ṇīr

jagāda nārāyaṇam ādi-sūkaram

Translation

After arriving at the place of combat, Brahmā, the leader of thousands of sages and transcendentalists, saw the demon, who had attained such unprecedented power that no one could fight with him. Brahmā then addressed Nārāyaṇa, who was assuming the form of a boar for the first time.

Read this verse on Vedabase.io

This verse has no purport; its meaning is explained by the verses around it.

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Brahmā Addresses Nārāyaṇa

1
Brahmā arrived at the place of combat as the leader of thousands of sages and transcendentalists.
2
He saw that the demon had attained unprecedented power, so that no one could fight with him.
3
Brahmā then addressed Nārāyaṇa, who was assuming the form of a boar for the first time.

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

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

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

āsannaattained
śauṇḍīrampower
apetadevoid of
sādhvasamfear
kṛtamaking
pratīkāramopposition
ahāryaunopposable
vikramamhaving power

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.

Live it

Take one thing from this verse into your day.

Ask yourself

What strikes you about Brahmā turning to Nārāyaṇa when faced with such a powerful demon?

Practice

Pause today to remember Nārāyaṇa in His boar form and offer Him a brief prayer.

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayBrahmā Addresses NārāyaṇaThis 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 3.18.21? Get an answer from the verses themselves.

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