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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
3.18.63.18.8

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.18.7

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
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

तं नि:सरन्तं सलिलादनुद्रुतो

हिरण्यकेशो द्विरदं यथा झष: ।

करालदंष्ट्रोऽशनिनिस्वनोऽब्रवीद्

गतह्रियां किं त्वसतां विगर्हितम् ॥ ७ ॥

taṁ niḥsarantaṁ salilād anudruto

hiraṇya-keśo dviradaṁ yathā jhaṣaḥ

karāla-daṁṣṭro ’śani-nisvano ’bravīd

gata-hriyāṁ kiṁ tv asatāṁ vigarhitam

Translation

The demon, who had golden hair on his head and fearful tusks, gave chase to the Lord while He was rising from the water, even as an alligator would chase an elephant. Roaring like thunder, he said: Are You not ashamed of running away before a challenging adversary? There is nothing reproachable for shameless creatures!

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Duty Matters More Than Derision

  1. 1

    The demon pursued the Lord and mocked Him for apparently fleeing. The Lord paid no attention because He was conscious of His duty.

  2. 2

    For a dutiful person there is nothing to fear. The Lord had no fear of His enemy’s derision or unkind words.

  3. 3

    The Lord tolerated Hiraṇyākṣa’s insults to protect the earth from calamity. By neglecting His enemy, He also showed him mercy.

Key points from the purport
  • When the Lord was coming out of the water, taking the earth in His arms to deliver it, the demon derided Him with insulting words, but the Lord did not care because He was very conscious of His duty.
  • Similarly, those who are powerful have no fear of derision or unkind words from an enemy.
  • The Lord had nothing to fear from anyone, yet He was merciful to His enemy by neglecting him.

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. tamHim
  2. niḥsarantamcoming out
  3. salilātfrom the water
  4. anudrutaḥchased
  5. hiraṇya-keśaḥhaving golden hair
  6. dviradaman elephant
  7. yathāas
  8. jhaṣaḥa crocodile
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

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 3.18

    In this verse: “fearful”, “fear”

  • Dharma · Duty and righteous conduct

    Right action as duty, responsibility and devotion. · Theme in SB 3.18

    In this verse: “duty”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 3.18

    In this verse: “mercy”

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

When do unkind words distract me from a responsibility I should fulfill?

Practice

Complete one needed duty today without letting concern about ridicule distract you.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayDuty Matters More Than DerisionThis 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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