1 · Learn4 of 6 · 5 min

Study a Verse

Read one verse of Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam with its Sanskrit, word meanings, translation and study points.

Or browse by canto and chapter
Canto

Canto 4 · The Creation of the Fourth Order · 31 chapters

12345678910111213141516171819202122232425262728293031

Choose a chapter to see all its verses.

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 4 · Chapter 17: Mahārāja Pṛthu Becomes Angry at the Earth
4.17.334.17.35

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam · Text 4.17.34

Poṣaṇa· The Lord's protection
Who is speaking and story frame
Speaking:The planet earthsince 4.17.30inside 3 frames: Sūta Gosvāmī → the sages at NaimiṣāraṇyaŚukadeva Gosvāmī → King ParīkṣitMaitreya Ṛṣi → Vidura

स वै भवानात्मविनिर्मितं जगद्

भूतेन्द्रियान्त:करणात्मकं विभो ।

संस्थापयिष्यन्नज मां रसातला-

दभ्युज्जहाराम्भस आदिसूकर: ॥ ३४ ॥

sa vai bhavān ātma-vinirmitaṁ jagad

bhūtendriyāntaḥ-karaṇātmakaṁ vibho

saṁsthāpayiṣyann aja māṁ rasātalād

abhyujjahārāmbhasa ādi-sūkaraḥ

Translation

My dear Lord, You are always unborn. Once, in the form of the original boar, You rescued me from the waters in the bottom of the universe. Through Your own energy You created all the physical elements, the senses and the heart, for the maintenance of the world.

Read Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport on Vedabase.io
1

Understand it

Three study points drawn from the translation and purport.

The Unborn Lord Rescues the Earth

  1. 1

    The earth addresses the Lord as always unborn. Through His own energy, He created the physical elements, senses and heart for the maintenance of the world.

  2. 2

    Hiraṇyākṣa dislocated the earth from its orbit and threw it beneath the waters of the Garbhodaka Ocean.

  3. 3

    Lord Kṛṣṇa appeared as the supreme boar, Varāha, and rescued the earth. The earth recalls this act of protection in her prayer.

Key points from the purport
  • The asura Hiraṇyākṣa had dislocated the earth from its orbit and thrown it beneath the waters of the Garbhodaka Ocean.
  • Then the Lord, in the shape of the original boar, rescued the earth.

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

Anger and disorder → Duty and devotion. Kingship shifts from domination to stewardship and renunciation.

Chapters 13–23 of Canto 4: Vena and Pṛthu: power, the Earth and stewardship. An editorial reading of the story's mood, not the text itself. See the emotional arc

Further reading

Chapter 17: Mahārāja Pṛthu Becomes Angry at the Earth

Pṛthu pursues the cow-shaped earth, who offers prayers and appeals to his mercy.

Back to this verse in chapter 4.17
2

Word for word

Learn the Sanskrit words of the verse.

  1. saḥHe
  2. vaicertainly
  3. bhavānYourself
  4. ātmaby Yourself
  5. vinirmitammanufactured
  6. jagatthis world
  7. bhūtathe physical elements
  8. indriyasenses
3

Key ideas in this verse

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

  • Poṣaṇa · Protection by the Lord

    How does the Lord care for His devotees? · Subject 4 of 10

  • Rakṣā · Divine protection

    Protection of devotees through the Lord’s intervention. · Theme in SB 4.17

    In this verse: “rescued”, “protection”

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

What feeling of gratitude arises when I reflect on the Lord’s rescue of the earth?

Practice

Spend a quiet minute remembering Lord Kṛṣṇa’s appearance as Varāha and thanking Him for protecting the earth.

5

The story around it

The story this chapter belongs to.

6

Connected stories

Keep going: stories told elsewhere in the Bhāgavatam that this verse or its purport brings in.

Found where this verse or Śrīla Prabhupāda's purport names them. See all of chapter 4.17's connections

Live this todayThe Unborn Lord Rescues the EarthThis 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 4.17.34? Get an answer from the verses themselves.
  1. Learn
  2. Live
  3. Lead
Next in Learn · 5 of 11 · 2 minAsk the BhāgavatamBring your own question. Get an answer drawn only from the Bhāgavatam's translations, with every verse shown.Back · LearnCantos & stories