Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 33

Varāha-avatāra: The Boar Incarnation Lifts the Earth and Slays Hiraṇyākṣa

Devanagari script

तमालनीलं सितदन्तकोट्या क्ष्मामुत्क्षिपन्तं गजलीलयाङ्ग । प्रज्ञाय बद्धाञ्जलयोऽनुवाकै- र्विरिञ्चिमुख्या उपतस्थुरीशम् ॥ ३३ ॥

Transliteration

tamāla-nīlaṁ sita-danta-koṭyā kṣmām utkṣipantaṁ gaja-līlayāṅga prajñāya baddhāñjalayo ’nuvākair viriñci-mukhyā upatasthur īśam

Translation

Then the Lord, playing like an elephant, suspended the earth on the edge of His curved white tusks. He assumed a bluish complexion like that of a tamāla tree, and thus the sages, headed by Brahmā, could understand Him to be the Supreme Personality of Godhead and offered respectful obeisances unto the Lord.

Synonyms

• tamāla-nīlam: dark-blue like a tamāla tree
• tamāla-nīlam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tamāla + nīla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana; कर्मधारय-समासः (tamāla-iva nīlaḥ)

• sita-danta-koṭyā: with the tip of the white tusk
• sita-danta-koṭyā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sita + danta + koṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Ekavacana; षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-तत्पुरुषः (sitaḥ dantaḥ, tasya koṭiḥ)

• kṣmām: the earth
• kṣmām: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣmā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana

• utkṣipantam: lifting up
• utkṣipantam: Viśeṣaṇa of īśam (विशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ut-√kṣip (धातु)
• Form: Vartamāna-kṛdanta (शतृ), Parasmaipada; Puṁliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; present active participle ‘lifting up’

• gaja-līlayā: with the playfulness of an elephant
• gaja-līlayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaja + līlā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Strīliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Ekavacana; तत्पुरुषः (gajasya līlā)

• aṅga: O Lord (O limb-bodied one)
• aṅga: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka, Sambodhana (Vocative/सम्बोधन), Ekavacana

• prajñāya: having recognized
• prajñāya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√jñā (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive (क्त्वा/ल्यप्) ‘having recognized/understood’

• baddha-añjalayaḥ: with joined palms
• baddha-añjalayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: baddha (√bandh, क्त) + añjali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Bahuvacana; तत्पुरुषः (baddhaḥ añjaliḥ yeṣām)

• anuvākaiḥ: with Vedic recitations
• anuvākaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anuvāka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Bahuvacana

• viriñci-mukhyāḥ: those headed by Brahmā
• viriñci-mukhyāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viriñci + mukhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā (1st/प्रथमा), Bahuvacana; तत्पुरुषः (viriñciḥ mukhyaḥ yeṣām)

• upatasthuḥ: they attended / stood near
• upatasthuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-√sthā (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (Perfect/लिट्), Parasmaipada; Prathama-puruṣa (3rd), Bahuvacana

• īśam: the Lord
• īśam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: īśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana

Characters & Entities

• Lord Varāha
• Brahmā (Viriñci)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Lord Varaha lifting the earth?

This verse describes Lord Varāha raising the earth (kṣmā) on the tip of His white tusk, showing the Lord’s protective power and compassionate intervention to restore cosmic order.

Why did Brahmā and the sages offer prayers to Lord Varāha?

They recognized Him as the Supreme Lord (īśa). Seeing His divine act of rescuing the earth, they approached with folded hands and recited hymns in worship and gratitude.

Practical application of Varaha Leela in modern life?

Remembering that the Lord protects and uplifts what is burdened teaches steadiness in संकट (crisis): turn to prayer, humility, and faithful action, trusting divine support while doing one’s duty.