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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
3.18.253.18.27

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.18.26

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Brahmāsince 3.18.25inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

एषा घोरतमा सन्ध्या लोकच्छम्बट्करी प्रभो ।

उपसर्पति सर्वात्मन् सुराणां जयमावह ॥ २६ ॥

eṣā ghoratamā sandhyā

loka-cchambaṭ-karī prabho

upasarpati sarvātman

surāṇāṁ jayam āvaha

Translation

My Lord, the darkest evening, which covers the world, is fast approaching. Since You are the Soul of all souls, kindly kill him and win victory for the demigods.

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.

Pray to the Soul of All Souls

  1. 1

    Brahmā noted that the darkest evening, covering the world, was fast approaching.

  2. 2

    He addressed the Lord as the Soul of all souls.

  3. 3

    He asked the Lord to kill the demon and bring victory to the demigods.

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. eṣāthis
  2. ghora-tamādarkest
  3. sandhyāevening time
  4. lokathe world
  5. chambaṭ-karīdestroying
  6. prabhoO Lord
  7. upasarpatiis approaching
  8. sarva-ātmanO Soul of all souls
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Karuṇā · Compassion

    Concern for others expressed through bhakti. · Theme in SB 3.18

    In this verse: “kindly”

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

What does addressing the Lord as the Soul of all souls invite you to reflect upon?

Practice

Spend one quiet minute remembering the Lord as the Soul of all souls.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPray to the Soul of All SoulsThis 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 3.18.26? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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