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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
3.19.273.19.29

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.19.28

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Lord Brahmāsince 3.19.28inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

यं योगिनो योगसमाधिना रहो

ध्यायन्ति लिङ्गादसतो मुमुक्षया ।

तस्यैष दैत्यऋषभ: पदाहतो

मुखं प्रपश्यंस्तनुमुत्ससर्ज ह ॥ २८ ॥

yaṁ yogino yoga-samādhinā raho

dhyāyanti liṅgād asato mumukṣayā

tasyaiṣa daitya-ṛṣabhaḥ padāhato

mukhaṁ prapaśyaṁs tanum utsasarja ha

Translation

Brahmā continued: He was struck by a forefoot of the Lord, whom yogīs, seeking freedom from their unreal material bodies, meditate upon in seclusion in mystic trance. While gazing on His countenance, this crest jewel of Diti’s sons has cast off his mortal coil.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Real Yoga Focuses on the Lord

  1. 1

    Real yoga aims at freedom from the material body, not merely keeping it fit and young. Meditation is meant to be practiced in seclusion rather than as a public display.

  2. 2

    Meditation should be directed toward the Personality of Godhead. Constant concentration on any of His forms, including His boar form, makes one a first-class yogī.

  3. 3

    One who continues meditating on the Lord's form at death is freed from the mortal body and transferred to the kingdom of God. The Lord gave this opportunity even to the demon.

Key points from the purport
  • Real yoga aims at ridding one of the material body.
  • Even if one concentrates his mind on the boar form of the Lord, that is also yoga.
  • In other words, the perfection of yoga practice can be attained by a demon also if he is simply kicked by the Lord.

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. yamwhom
  2. yoginaḥthe yogīs
  3. yoga-samādhināin mystic trance
  4. rahaḥin seclusion
  5. dhyāyantimeditate upon
  6. liṅgātfrom the body
  7. asataḥunreal
  8. mumukṣayāseeking freedom
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Mukti · Liberation

    What is real freedom for the soul? · Subject 9 of 10

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Abhaya · Fearlessness

    Steadiness through faith amid danger and death. · Theme in SB 3.19

    In this verse: “death”

  • Rāja-dharma · Devotional leadership

    Serving and protecting through responsibility. · Theme in SB 3.19

    In this verse: “kingdom”

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

Is my interest in meditation directed toward the Lord, or mainly toward bodily benefits?

Practice

Sit in a quiet, secluded place for two minutes and gently focus your mind on the Lord's form.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayReal Yoga Focuses on 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.

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