Shloka 3

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

Devanagari script

चरितं तस्य राजर्षेरादिराजस्य सत्तम । ब्रूहि मे श्रद्दधानाय विष्वक्सेनाश्रयो ह्यसौ ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

caritaṁ tasya rājarṣer ādi-rājasya sattama brūhi me śraddadhānāya viṣvaksenāśrayo hy asau

Translation

ହେ ସତ୍ତମ! ବିଷ୍ୱକ୍ସେନ-ଆଶ୍ରିତ ସେଇ ରାଜର୍ଷି ଆଦିରାଜ (ମନୁ)ଙ୍କ ପବିତ୍ର ଚରିତ୍ର ଓ କର୍ମ ମୋତେ ଶ୍ରଦ୍ଧାରେ କହ; ମୁଁ ଶୁଣିବାକୁ ଅତ୍ୟନ୍ତ ଉତ୍ସୁକ।

Synonyms

• चरितम्: deeds; life-story
• चरितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चरित (कृदन्त; √चर् धातु)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन (Neuter, Nom/Acc, Singular); भूतकृत्-प्रत्ययान्त (past participial noun)

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Genitive, Singular)

• राजर्षेः: of the royal sage
• राजर्षेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजर्षि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Genitive, Singular)

• आदि-राजस्य: of the first king
• आदि-राजस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आदि (प्रातिपदिक) + राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Genitive, Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (ādi = first)

• सत्तम: O best one
• सत्तम: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सत्तम (प्रातिपदिक; सत्-तमप्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन विभक्ति, एकवचन (Vocative, Singular)

• ब्रूहि: tell; speak
• ब्रूहि: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ब्रू (धातु)
• Form: लोट्-लकार (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन (2nd person singular)

• मे: to me; for me
• मे: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/चतुर्थी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Genitive/Dative, Singular)

• श्रद्दधानाय: to (me) who is faithful
• श्रद्दधानाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान/चतुर्थी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रद्दधान (कृदन्त; √धा धातु, शतृ/शानच्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी विभक्ति, एकवचन (Dative, Singular); वर्तमानकाले कर्तरि शानच् (present participle, believing)

• विष्वक्सेन-आश्रयः: one who has Viṣvaksena as refuge
• विष्वक्सेन-आश्रयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्वक्सेन (प्रातिपदिक) + आश्रय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Nominative, Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (viṣvaksenasya āśrayaḥ)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Avyaya (अव्यय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle of emphasis/indeed)

• असौ: that person (he)
• असौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असौ (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन (Nominative, Singular)

Purport

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam is full of the transcendental topics of the Personality of Godhead and His pure devotees. In the absolute world there is no difference in quality between the Supreme Lord and His pure devotee. Therefore, hearing the topics of the Lord and hearing of the character and activities of the pure devotee have the same result, namely the development of devotional service.

Characters & Entities

• Maitreya
• Ādirāja (Svāyambhuva Manu)
• Viṣvaksena

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about taking shelter of Viṣvaksena?

This verse highlights that the ideal ruler (the Ādirāja) is praised because he took shelter of Viṣvaksena—the Supreme Lord—showing bhakti as the foundation of greatness.

Why does Maitreya ask to narrate the history of the Ādirāja?

In the flow of Canto 3, Maitreya is guiding the discussion toward the early creation-era dynasties and exemplary kings; the Ādirāja’s devotion makes his life especially worth hearing.

Practical application of śraddhā (faithful hearing) in modern life?

Approach sacred study with sincerity—regularly hear and reflect on Bhāgavatam teachings, and orient decisions around taking shelter of God rather than ego or anxiety.