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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 ›

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.19.13

Who is speaking and story frame

जग्राह त्रिशिखं शूलं ज्वलज्ज्वलनलोलुपम् ।

यज्ञाय धृतरूपाय विप्रायाभिचरन् यथा ॥ १३ ॥

jagrāha tri-śikhaṁ śūlaṁ

jvalaj-jvalana-lolupam

yajñāya dhṛta-rūpāya

viprāyābhicaran yathā

Translation

He now took a trident which was as rapacious as a flaming fire and hurled it against the Lord, the enjoyer of all sacrifices, even as one would use penance for a malevolent purpose against a holy brāhmaṇa.

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.

Power Turned Toward a Malevolent Purpose

  1. 1

    The demon took up a trident described as rapacious as a flaming fire.

  2. 2

    He hurled it against the Lord, who is the enjoyer of all sacrifices.

  3. 3

    The attack is compared to using penance for a malevolent purpose against a holy brāhmaṇa.

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. jagrāhatook up
  2. tri-śikhamthree-pointed
  3. śūlamtrident
  4. jvalatflaming
  5. jvalanafire
  6. lolupamrapacious
  7. yajñāyaat the enjoyer of all sacrifices
  8. dhṛta-rūpāyain the form of Varāha
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

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

Are your efforts directed toward pleasing the Lord or toward hostility?

Practice

Before one devotional activity today, pause and choose the intention of pleasing the Lord rather than opposing someone.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayPower Turned Toward a Malevolent PurposeThis 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 3.19.13? Get an answer from the verses themselves.