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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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Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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
3.19.243.19.26

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.19.25

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

तं मुष्टिभिर्विनिघ्नन्तं वज्रसारैरधोक्षज: ।

करेण कर्णमूलेऽहन् यथा त्वाष्ट्रं मरुत्पति: ॥ २५ ॥

taṁ muṣṭibhir vinighnantaṁ

vajra-sārair adhokṣajaḥ

kareṇa karṇa-mūle ’han

yathā tvāṣṭraṁ marut-patiḥ

Translation

The demon now began to strike the Lord with his hard fists, but Lord Adhokṣaja slapped him in the root of the ear, even as Indra, the lord of the Maruts, hit the demon Vṛtra.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Adhokṣaja Is Beyond Our Senses

  1. 1

    The demon struck the Lord with his hard fists, but Lord Adhokṣaja struck him at the root of the ear.

  2. 2

    Akṣaja means measurement by our senses. Adhokṣaja means that which is beyond the measurement of our senses.

  3. 3

    The name Adhokṣaja teaches that the Lord is beyond the reach of all material calculation.

Key points from the purport
  • The Lord is explained here to be adhokṣaja, beyond the reach of all material calculation.
  • Akṣaja means “the measurement of our senses,” and adhokṣaja means “that which is beyond the measurement of our senses.”

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. tamHiraṇyākṣa
  2. muṣṭibhiḥwith his fists
  3. vinighnantamstriking
  4. vajra-sāraiḥas hard as a thunderbolt
  5. adhokṣajaḥLord Adhokṣaja
  6. kareṇawith the hand
  7. karṇa-mūleat the root of the ear
  8. ahanstruck
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

  • Moha · Material attachment

    The pull of ego, desire and impermanent relationships. · Theme in SB 3.19

    In this verse: “material”

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

How might remembering the name Adhokṣaja make my understanding of the Lord more humble?

Practice

Say the name Adhokṣaja slowly and recall its meaning: beyond the measurement of our senses.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayAdhokṣaja Is Beyond Our SensesThis 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 3.19.25? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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