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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
3.19.303.19.32

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.19.31

Nirodha· Winding up
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Maitreya Ṛṣisince 3.19.31inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

मैत्रेय उवाच

एवं हिरण्याक्षमसह्यविक्रमं

स सादयित्वा हरिरादिसूकर: ।

जगाम लोकं स्वमखण्डितोत्सवं

समीडित: पुष्करविष्टरादिभि: ॥ ३१ ॥

maitreya uvāca

evaṁ hiraṇyākṣam asahya-vikramaṁ

sa sādayitvā harir ādi-sūkaraḥ

jagāma lokaṁ svam akhaṇḍitotsavaṁ

samīḍitaḥ puṣkara-viṣṭarādibhiḥ

Translation

Śrī Maitreya continued: After thus killing the most formidable demon Hiraṇyākṣa, the Supreme Lord Hari, the origin of the boar species, returned to His own abode, where there is always an uninterrupted festival. The Lord was praised by all the demigods, headed by Brahmā.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Lord Descends from His Eternal Abode

  1. 1

    All bodily forms originate from the Supreme Personality of Godhead. His boar form is not an ordinary animal form; even Brahmā and the other demigods praised Him.

  2. 2

    The Lord descends from His transcendental abode to kill miscreants and protect His devotees. His descent does not mean that He assumes a material body of flesh and bone.

  3. 3

    The Lord resides in Goloka Vṛndāvana while remaining all-pervasive through His energies. In His abode, complete happiness is an uninterrupted festival.

Key points from the purport
  • Even Lord Brahmā and the other demigods praised the Lord’s form as a boar.
  • Although the Lord has His particular abode in which to reside, He is all-pervasive.
  • The Lord descends from His abode to this world, and therefore He is called avatāra, which means “one who descends.”

Śrīla Prabhupāda's own sentences, chosen from the purport as its central points. Read the full purport on Vedabase to see them in place.

Connected verses· 1

The purport of SB 3.19.31 quotesBG 10.8

Indeed, in Bhagavad-gītā (10.8) the Lord Himself declares, mattaḥ sarvaṁ pravartate: “From Me everything proceeds.”

Each link is a verse the purport itself quotes, or a purport elsewhere that quotes this verse, shown with the purport's own words.

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. maitreyaḥ uvācaŚrī Maitreya said
  2. evamthus
  3. hiraṇyākṣamHiraṇyākṣa
  4. asahya-vikramamvery powerful
  5. saḥthe Lord
  6. sādayitvāafter killing
  7. hariḥthe Supreme Personality of Godhead
  8. ādi-sūkaraḥthe origin of the boar species
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

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 3.19

    In this verse: “protect”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “material”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

    How devotion reorganizes desire and action. · Theme in SB 3.19

    In this verse: “devotees”

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 knowing that the Lord’s form is transcendental deepen my respect for Him?

Practice

Reread the translation and offer one sentence of praise to the Lord for protecting His devotees.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayThe Lord Descends from His Eternal AbodeThis 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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