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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
3.18.53.18.7

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.18.6

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The demonsince 3.18.5inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

स तुद्यमानोऽरिदुरुक्ततोमरै-

र्दंष्ट्राग्रगां गामुपलक्ष्य भीताम् ।

तोदं मृषन्निरगादम्बुमध्याद्

ग्राहाहत: सकरेणुर्यथेभ: ॥ ६ ॥

sa tudyamāno ’ri-durukta-tomarair

daṁṣṭrāgra-gāṁ gām upalakṣya bhītām

todaṁ mṛṣan niragād ambu-madhyād

grāhāhataḥ sa-kareṇur yathebhaḥ

Translation

Although the Lord was pained by the shaftlike abusive words of the demon, He bore the pain. But seeing that the earth on the ends of His tusks was frightened, He rose out of the water just as an elephant emerges with its female companion when assailed by an alligator.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Feels and Protects

  1. 1

    The Supreme Personality of Godhead has feelings. He is satisfied by sincere prayers and dissatisfied by harsh words against Him.

  2. 2

    Descriptions that deny the Lord’s form, existence, or bodily limbs are misconceptions. Such descriptions do not please Him.

  3. 3

    Although the demon’s words caused Him sorrow, the Lord tolerated them and delivered the frightened earth. He is always ready to tolerate insults to protect His devotee.

Key points from the purport
  • The Māyāvādī philosopher cannot understand that the Lord has feelings.
  • In other words, they say that He is dead or lame.
  • In this case, although the Lord felt sorrow from the piercing words of the demon, He delivered the earth for the satisfaction of the demigods, who are ever His devotees.

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. saḥHe
  2. tudyamānaḥbeing pained
  3. ariof the enemy
  4. duruktaby the abusive words
  5. tomaraiḥby the weapons
  6. daṁṣṭra-agraon the ends of His tusks
  7. gāmsituated
  8. gāmthe earth
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

  • Sakhya · Sacred friendship

    The affection of companions and friends of the Lord. · Theme in SB 3.18

    In this verse: “companion”

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 3.18

    In this verse: “protect”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotee”

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 knowing that the Lord receives our prayers personally affect the way I address Him?

Practice

Offer a short, thoughtful prayer appreciating the Lord’s protection of His devotees.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Feels and ProtectsThis 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 3.18.6? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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