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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
3.19.253.19.27

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.19.26

Nirodha· Winding up
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

स आहतो विश्वजिता ह्यवज्ञया

परिभ्रमद्गात्र उदस्तलोचन: ।

विशीर्णबाह्वङ्‌घ्रिशिरोरुहोऽपतद्

यथा नगेन्द्रो लुलितो नभस्वता ॥ २६ ॥

sa āhato viśva-jitā hy avajñayā

paribhramad-gātra udasta-locanaḥ

viśīrṇa-bāhv-aṅghri-śiroruho ’patad

yathā nagendro lulito nabhasvatā

Translation

Though struck indifferently by the Lord, the conqueror of all, the demon’s body began to wheel. His eyeballs bulged out of their sockets. His arms and legs broken and the hair on his head scattered, he fell down dead, like a gigantic tree uprooted by the wind.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Material Power Cannot Equal the Lord

  1. 1

    The Lord could have killed Hiraṇyākṣa long before, but He allowed the demon to display the full extent of his magical feats.

  2. 2

    Magical feats, scientific advancement and material power cannot make anyone equal to the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

  3. 3

    One signal from the Lord is sufficient to destroy all our attempts. Despite the demon's maneuvers, the Lord killed him with one slap when He desired.

Key points from the purport
  • It does not take even a moment for the Lord to kill any powerful demon, including Hiraṇyākṣa.
  • The Lord could have killed him long before, but He allowed the demon to display the full extent of his magical feats.
  • His inconceivable power, as displayed here, is so strong that the demon, despite all his demoniac maneuvers, was killed by the Lord when the Lord desired, simply by one slap.

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
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Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. saḥhe
  2. āhataḥhaving been struck
  3. viśva-jitāby the Supreme Personality of Godhead
  4. hithough
  5. avajñayāindifferently
  6. paribhramatwheeling
  7. gātraḥbody
  8. udastabulged out
3

Key ideas in this verse

The subject this verse serves and the themes it speaks of.

  • Nirodha · Returning home, back to Godhead

    What happens when everything here comes to an end? · Subject 8 of 10

  • Vairāgya · Freedom from attachment

    Release from possessiveness and false identities. · Theme in SB 3.19

    In this verse: “indifferently”

  • 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

Where am I placing too much confidence in my own abilities or material resources?

Practice

Name one ability you feel proud of, and pause to acknowledge that it cannot make you equal to the Supreme Lord.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayMaterial Power Cannot Equal the LordThis 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 3.19.26? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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