Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 15
Varāha-avatāra: The Boar Incarnation Lifts the Earth and Slays Hiraṇyākṣa
यदोक: सर्वभूतानां मही मग्ना महाम्भसि । अस्या उद्धरणे यत्नो देव देव्या विधीयताम् ॥ १५ ॥
yad okaḥ sarva-bhūtānāṁ mahī magnā mahāmbhasi asyā uddharaṇe yatno deva devyā vidhīyatām
يا سيّدَ الآلهة! إن الأرض، مسكنَ جميع الكائنات، قد غاصت في المياه العظيمة. فتفضّل وابذل الجهد لرفعها؛ فبمسعاك وبنعمة البهاگَفان يتمّ ذلك.
The great water mentioned in this connection is the Garbhodaka Ocean, which fills half of the universe.
FAQs
In this verse, Brahmā states that the earth has sunk into the great cosmic waters and requests the Lord to arrange her upliftment—setting the stage for the Varāha avatāra’s Bhūmi-uddharaṇa (rescue of the earth).
Because the earth, the support for all beings, had become submerged; Brahmā, responsible for secondary creation, appeals to the Supreme Lord—whose divine potency alone can restore cosmic order.
When situations feel “submerged” beyond one’s capacity, this verse models humility and prayerful dependence: do your duty, but seek the Lord’s help as the ultimate shelter and rescuer.