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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
3.19.363.19.38

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.19.37

Mukti· Liberation
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:Sūta Gosvāmīsince 3.19.33inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

यो वै हिरण्याक्षवधं

महाद्भुतं

विक्रीडितं कारणसूकरात्मन: ।

श‍ृणोति

गायत्यनुमोदतेऽञ्जसा

विमुच्यते ब्रह्मवधादपि द्विजा: ॥ ३७ ॥

yo vai hiraṇyākṣa-vadhaṁ mahādbhutaṁ

vikrīḍitaṁ kāraṇa-sūkarātmanaḥ

śṛṇoti gāyaty anumodate ’ñjasā

vimucyate brahma-vadhād api dvijāḥ

Translation

O brāhmaṇas, anyone who hears, chants, or takes pleasure in the wonderful narration of the killing of the Hiraṇyākṣa demon by the Lord, who appeared as the first boar in order to deliver the world, is at once relieved of the results of sinful activities, even the killing of a brāhmaṇa.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Hearing the Lord’s Pastimes Purifies

  1. 1

    There is no difference between the Supreme Personality of Godhead and His pastimes. Hearing about His activities means associating directly with Him.

  2. 2

    Hearing, chanting or taking pleasure in this narration frees one from the results of sinful activities. The verse includes even the grave sin of killing a brāhmaṇa.

  3. 3

    One should eagerly hear from a pure devotee who presents the narration as it is. By listening and accepting the Lord’s glories, one becomes qualified to relish His pastimes.

Key points from the purport
  • Anyone who hears about the pastimes of the Lord associates with the Lord directly, and one who associates directly with the Lord is certainly freed from all sinful activities, even to the extent of the killing of a brāhmaṇa, which is considered the most sinful activity in the material world.
  • One should be very eager to hear about the activities of the Lord from the bona fide source, the pure devotee.
  • We have to hear from Sūta Gosvāmī or Maitreya, who actually present the narrations as they are, and only then can we relish the pastimes of the Lord; otherwise the effects on the neophyte audience will be poisonous.

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. yaḥhe who
  2. vaiindeed
  3. hiraṇyākṣa-vadhamof the killing of Hiraṇyākṣa
  4. mahā-adbhutammost wonderful
  5. vikrīḍitampastime
  6. kāraṇafor reasons like raising the earth from the ocean
  7. sūkaraappearing in the form of a boar
  8. ātmanaḥof the Supreme Personality of Godhead
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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

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

    Remembering the Lord through sacred sound. · Theme in SB 3.19

    In this verse: “chants”, “narration”, “chanting”

  • Śuddhi · Inner transformation

    The reorientation of the heart toward service. · Theme in SB 3.19

    In this verse: “sinful”

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotee”

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 would I listen differently if I remembered that hearing brings direct association with the Lord?

Practice

Read this translation aloud once, attentively accepting and appreciating the Lord’s glories.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayHearing the Lord’s Pastimes PurifiesThis 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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