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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
3.19.373.20.1

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 3.19.38

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

एतन्महापुण्यमलं पवित्रं

धन्यं यशस्यं पदमायुराशिषाम् ।

प्राणेन्द्रियाणां युधि शौर्यवर्धनं

नारायणोऽन्ते गतिरङ्ग श‍ृण्वताम् ॥ ३८ ॥

etan mahā-puṇyam alaṁ pavitraṁ

dhanyaṁ yaśasyaṁ padam āyur-āśiṣām

prāṇendriyāṇāṁ yudhi śaurya-vardhanaṁ

nārāyaṇo ’nte gatir aṅga śṛṇvatām

Translation

This most sacred narrative confers extraordinary merit, wealth, fame, longevity and all the objects of one’s desire. On the field of battle it promotes the strength of one’s vital organs and organs of action. One who listens to it at the last moment of his life is transferred to the supreme abode of the Lord, O dear Śaunaka.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

Attentive Hearing Leads to the Lord’s Abode

  1. 1

    Attentively hearing the Lord’s pastimes brings innumerable benefits, even without separate austerities or meditation. These benefits include wealth, fame, longevity and other desirable aims of life.

  2. 2

    Continuing to hear Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam leads one to the Lord’s eternal, transcendental abode at life’s end. This is the supreme result of engaging in devotional service.

  3. 3

    Devotional service begins by setting aside time to hear Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam from the right source. Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu also recommended serving devotees, chanting Hare Kṛṣṇa, worshiping the Deity and living in a place of pilgrimage.

Key points from the purport
  • Devotees are generally attracted by the narratives of the pastimes of the Lord, and even though they do not prosecute austerities or meditation, this very process of hearing attentively about the pastimes of the Lord will endow them with innumerable benefits, such as wealth, fame, longevity and other desirable aims of life.
  • If one continues to hear Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, which is full of narratives of the pastimes of the Lord, at the end of this life, one is sure to be transferred to the eternal, transcendental abode of the Lord.
  • Lord Caitanya Mahāprabhu also recommended five items of devotional service, namely to serve the devotees of the Lord, to chant Hare Kṛṣṇa, to hear Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, to worship the Deity of the Lord and to live in a place of pilgrimage.

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. etatthis narrative
  2. mahā-puṇyamconferring great merit
  3. alamvery
  4. pavitramsacred
  5. dhanyamconferring wealth
  6. yaśasyambearing fame
  7. padamthe receptacle
  8. āyuḥof longevity
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

  • Bhakti · Devotion and loving service

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

    In this verse: “devotional service”, “devotees”, “worshiping”

  • Moha · Material attachment

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

    In this verse: “wealth”

  • Kīrtana · Hearing and chanting

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

    In this verse: “chanting”, “hearing”

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 can I make regular hearing a priority, with devotional service as my goal?

Practice

Set aside five minutes today to hear Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam from a bona fide devotional source.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

Live this todayAttentive Hearing Leads to the Lord’s 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.

Ask the BhāgavatamHave a question about SB 3.19.38? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
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