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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 19: The Killing of the Demon Hiraṇyākṣa
3.19.103.19.12

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.19.11

Īśānukathā· The Lord and His devotees
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The Lordsince 3.19.10inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

तां स आपततीं वीक्ष्य भगवान्

समवस्थित: ।

जग्राह लीलया प्राप्तां गरुत्मानिव पन्नगीम् ॥ ११ ॥

tāṁ sa āpatatīṁ vīkṣya

bhagavān samavasthitaḥ

jagrāha līlayā prāptāṁ

garutmān iva pannagīm

Translation

When the Lord saw the mace flying toward Him, He stood firmly where He was and caught it with the same ease as Garuḍa, the king of birds, would seize a serpent.

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.

The Lord Catches the Mace With Ease

  1. 1

    The Lord saw the mace flying toward Him and stood firmly where He was.

  2. 2

    He caught the weapon easily; the attack did not force Him to retreat.

  3. 3

    His ease is compared to Garuḍa, the king of birds, seizing a serpent.

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 19: The Killing of the Demon Hiraṇyākṣa

Lord Varāha defeats Hiraṇyākṣa and returns to His abode amid the demigods’ praises.

Back to this verse in chapter 3.19
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. tāmthat mace
  2. saḥHe
  3. āpatatīmflying toward
  4. vīkṣyaafter seeing
  5. bhagavānthe Supreme Personality of Godhead
  6. samavasthitaḥstood firmly
  7. jagrāhacaught
  8. līlayāeasily
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

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 3.19

    In this verse: “king”

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 the Lord’s effortless response help you appreciate about His strength?

Practice

Read the verse slowly once, noticing the Lord’s firmness and ease.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Catches the Mace With EaseThis 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 3.19.11? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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