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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
3.19.263.19.28

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.19.27

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

क्षितौ शयानं तमकुण्ठवर्चसं

करालदंष्ट्रं परिदष्टदच्छदम् ।

अजादयो वीक्ष्य शशंसुरागता

अहो इमां को नु लभेत संस्थितिम् ॥ २७ ॥

kṣitau śayānaṁ tam akuṇṭha-varcasaṁ

karāla-daṁṣṭraṁ paridaṣṭa-dacchadam

ajādayo vīkṣya śaśaṁsur āgatā

aho imaṁ ko nu labheta saṁsthitim

Translation

Aja [Brahmā] and others arrived on the spot to see the fearfully tusked demon lying on the ground, biting his lip. The glow of his face was yet unfaded, and Brahmā admiringly said: Oh, who could meet such blessed death?

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Seeing the Lord Makes Death Blessed

  1. 1

    Hiraṇyākṣa's bodily luster remained unfaded after death because the Lord, the Supreme Spirit, was touching his body.

  2. 2

    The individual soul is different from the Supreme Personality of Godhead. Although the demon's soul had departed, the Supreme Spirit's touch preserved his bodily luster.

  3. 3

    One who sees the Supreme Personality of Godhead when leaving the body is very fortunate. Therefore Brahmā and the other demigods praised the demon's death.

Key points from the purport
  • Although the demon was dead, his bodily luster was unfaded.
  • Although the demon’s soul had departed his body, the Supreme Spirit touched the body, and therefore his bodily luster did not fade.
  • One who sees the Supreme Personality of Godhead when he quits his body is certainly very fortunate, and therefore personalities like Brahmā and the other demigods eulogized the death of the demon.

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. kṣitauon the ground
  2. śayānamlying
  3. tamHiraṇyākṣa
  4. akuṇṭhaunfaded
  5. varcasamglow
  6. karālafearful
  7. daṁṣṭramteeth
  8. paridaṣṭabitten
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: “fearfully”, “death”

  • Kṛpā · Divine mercy

    Grace received beyond material calculations. · Theme in SB 3.19

    In this verse: “blessed”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “luster”

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 does Brahmā's praise change my understanding of what makes a death fortunate?

Practice

Write one sentence explaining why Brahmā called this death blessed.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todaySeeing the Lord Makes Death BlessedThis 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 3.19.27? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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