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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 19: The Killing of the Demon Hiraṇyākṣa
3.19.163.19.18

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.19.17

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

अथोरुधासृजन्मायां योगमायेश्वरे हरौ ।

यां विलोक्य प्रजास्त्रस्ता मेनिरेऽस्योपसंयमम् ॥ १७ ॥

athorudhāsṛjan māyāṁ

yoga-māyeśvare harau

yāṁ vilokya prajās trastā

menire ’syopasaṁyamam

Translation

The demon, however, employed many conjuring tricks against the Personality of Godhead, who is the Lord of yoga-māyā. At the sight of this the people were filled with alarm and thought that the dissolution of the universe was near.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord’s Greatness Surpasses Human Measure

  1. 1

    The demon employed many conjuring tricks against the Personality of Godhead, the Lord of yoga-māyā.

  2. 2

    The Lord’s fighting enjoyment with His devotee, who had become a demon, appeared severe enough to bring about the universe’s dissolution.

  3. 3

    Such is the Lord’s greatness that even the wavering of His little finger can appear very dangerous to the inhabitants of the universe.

Key points from the purport
  • The fighting enjoyment of the Supreme Lord with His devotee, who had been converted into a demon, appeared severe enough to bring about the dissolution of the universe.
  • This is the greatness of the Supreme Personality of Godhead; even the wavering of His little finger appears to be a great and very dangerous movement in the eyes of the inhabitants of the universe.

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 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. athathen
  2. urudhāin many ways
  3. asṛjathe cast
  4. māyāmconjuring tricks
  5. yoga-māyā-īśvarethe Lord of yoga-māyā
  6. harauat Hari
  7. yāmwhich
  8. vilokyaafter seeing
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 3.19

    In this verse: “dangerous”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 3.19

    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

What does the people’s alarm reveal about the difference between their perspective and the Lord’s greatness?

Practice

Reread the description of the Lord’s little finger and pause to acknowledge His greatness.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord’s Greatness Surpasses Human MeasureThis 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 3.19.17? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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