Shloka 41
Varāha-avatāra: The Boar Incarnation Lifts the Earth and Slays Hiraṇyākṣa
त्रयीमयं रूपमिदं च सौकरं भूमण्डलेनाथ दता धृतेन ते । चकास्ति शृङ्गोढघनेन भूयसा कुलाचलेन्द्रस्य यथैव विभ्रम: ॥ ४१ ॥
trayīmayaṁ rūpam idaṁ ca saukaraṁ bhū-maṇḍalenātha datā dhṛtena te cakāsti śṛṅgoḍha-ghanena bhūyasā kulācalendrasya yathaiva vibhramaḥ
हे प्रभो! वेदत्रयीमय आपका यह वराह-रूप, दंष्ट्रा के अग्रभाग पर पृथ्वी को धारण करने से भूमण्डल में और भी अधिक शोभित हो उठा है; जैसे महान कुलाचल के शिखर घने मेघों से अलंकृत होकर सुंदर लगते हैं।
The word vibhramaḥ is significant. Vibhramaḥ means “illusion” as well as “beauty.” When a cloud rests on the peak of a great mountain, it appears to be sustained by the mountain, and at the same time it looks very beautiful. Similarly, the Lord has no need to sustain the earth on His tusks, but when He does so the world becomes beautiful, just as the Lord becomes more beautiful because of His pure devotees on the earth. Although the Lord is the transcendental personification of the Vedic hymns, He has become more beautiful because of His appearance to sustain the earth.
FAQs
This verse says Lord Varaha’s very form is “trayīmaya”—filled with the essence of the three Vedas—showing that the Vedic truth culminates in the Supreme Lord’s personal manifestation.
The verse poetically explains that when the Lord bears the earth on His tusk, His majesty becomes even more striking—like a great mountain made more splendid by a dense cloud on its summit.
It teaches trust in divine protection: when chaos seems heavy like the “earth” on our shoulders, remembrance of the Lord as the upholder of dharma strengthens faith and steadiness.