Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 19

Varāha Confronts Hiraṇyākṣa: The Challenge, the Rescue of Earth, and the Opening of the Mace-Duel

Devanagari script

तयो: स्पृधोस्तिग्मगदाहताङ्गयो: क्षतास्रवघ्राणविवृद्धमन्य्वो: । विचित्रमार्गांश्चरतोर्जिगीषया व्यभादिलायामिव शुष्मिणोर्मृध: ॥ १९ ॥

Transliteration

tayoḥ spṛdhos tigma-gadāhatāṅgayoḥ kṣatāsrava-ghrāṇa-vivṛddha-manyvoḥ vicitra-mārgāṁś carator jigīṣayā vyabhād ilāyām iva śuṣmiṇor mṛdhaḥ

Translation

Havia acirrada rivalidade entre os dois combatentes. Feridos no corpo pelos golpes de suas maças pontiagudas, e enfurecidos pelo cheiro do próprio sangue, tornavam-se cada vez mais irados. Ávidos por vencer, executavam manobras variadas; o combate parecia o choque de dois touros poderosos por uma vaca.

Synonyms

• tayoḥ: of the two
• tayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (pronoun), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Dual (द्विवचन), Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुं)

• spṛdhoḥ: of the two rivals/contenders
• spṛdhoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: spṛdh (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Dual (द्विवचन)

• tigma-gadā-hata-aṅgayoḥ: whose limbs were struck by sharp maces
• tigma-gadā-hata-aṅgayoḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tigma (प्रातिपदिक) + gadā (प्रातिपदिक) + hata (कृदन्त, √han) + aṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Bahupada compound; Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Dual (द्विवचन), Masculine/Neuter (पुं/नपुं); qualifies 'tayoḥ/spṛdhoḥ'

• kṣata-āsrava-ghrāṇa-vivṛddha-manyvoḥ: whose anger increased by smelling the flow of blood from wounds
• kṣata-āsrava-ghrāṇa-vivṛddha-manyvoḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: kṣata (कृदन्त, √kṣan/√kṣat 'to wound') + āsrava (प्रातिपदिक) + ghrāṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + vivṛddha (कृदन्त, √vṛdh) + manyu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Dual (द्विवचन), Masculine; compound qualifying the two; manyu = anger

• vicitra-mārgān: varied paths/maneuvers
• vicitra-mārgān: Karma (कर्म/Direct object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vicitra (प्रातिपदिक) + mārga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• caratoḥ: (the two) were moving/roaming
• caratoḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verbal action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √car (धातु)
• Form: Present tense (लट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Dual (द्विवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• jigīṣayā: with the desire to conquer
• jigīṣayā: Hetu/Karaṇa (हेतु/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jigīṣā (प्रातिपदिक; desiderative noun from √ji)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• vyabhāt: shone forth/appeared
• vyabhāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhā (धातु) with vi- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• ilāyām: on the earth
• ilāyām: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ilā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• iva: as if/like
• iva: Upamāna-sūcaka (उपमानसूचक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle of comparison (उपमा-अव्यय)

• śuṣmiṇoḥ: of the two mighty/fiery ones
• śuṣmiṇoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śuṣmin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Dual (द्विवचन)

• mṛdhaḥ: the battle
• mṛdhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛdh (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

Purport

Here the earth planet is called ilā. This earth was formerly known as Ilāvṛta-varṣa, and when Mahārāja Parīkṣit ruled the earth it was called Bhārata-varṣa. Actually, Bhārata-varṣa is the name for the entire planet, but gradually Bhārata-varṣa has come to mean India. As India has recently been divided into Pakistan and Hindustan, similarly the earth was formerly called Ilāvṛta-varṣa, but gradually as time passed it was divided by national boundaries.

Characters & Entities

• Varāha (Lord Boar, Śrī Viṣṇu)
• Hiraṇyākṣa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam describe about the Varaha and Hiranyaksha battle in Canto 3?

This verse portrays their duel as intensely dynamic—both wounded by sharp mace-blows, moving in intricate patterns, with rising fury—yet shining on earth as a dramatic display of power as each strives for victory.

Why is Śukadeva Gosvāmī describing the movements and anger of both fighters?

He is narrating to Mahārāja Parīkṣit the climactic struggle where adharma (Hiraṇyākṣa) resists and the Lord (Varāha) confronts him; the vivid detail highlights the seriousness of the conflict and the Lord’s protective līlā for the earth.

What is the practical application of Varaha Leela in modern life?

When chaos and aggression rise, this līlā reminds a devotee to stay steady in dharma, trust the Lord’s protection, and face obstacles with disciplined effort rather than fear—knowing that truth and divine order ultimately prevail.