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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
3.19.173.19.19

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.19.18

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

प्रववुर्वायवश्चण्डास्तम: पांसवमैरयन् ।

दिग्भ्यो निपेतुर्ग्रावाण: क्षेपणै: प्रहिता इव ॥ १८ ॥

pravavur vāyavaś caṇḍās

tamaḥ pāṁsavam airayan

digbhyo nipetur grāvāṇaḥ

kṣepaṇaiḥ prahitā iva

Translation

Fierce winds began to blow from all directions, spreading darkness occasioned by dust and hail storms; stones came in volleys from every corner, as if thrown by machine guns.

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.

Fierce Winds and Darkness Spread Everywhere

  1. 1

    Fierce winds began blowing from all directions.

  2. 2

    Dust and hail storms spread darkness.

  3. 3

    Stones came in volleys from every corner, as if thrown by machine guns.

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. pravavuḥwere blowing
  2. vāyavaḥwinds
  3. caṇḍāḥfierce
  4. tamaḥdarkness
  5. pāṁsavamcaused by dust
  6. airayanwere spreading
  7. digbhyaḥfrom every direction
  8. nipetuḥcame down
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

Which detail most helps you understand how frightening this scene was?

Practice

Read the verse once and identify its three main features: winds, darkness, and flying stones.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayFierce Winds and Darkness Spread EverywhereThis 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 3.19.18? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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