Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

इति मीमांसतस्तस्य ब्रह्मण: सह सूनुभि: । भगवान् यज्ञपुरुषो जगर्जागेन्द्रसन्निभ: ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

iti mīmāṁsatas tasya brahmaṇaḥ saha sūnubhiḥ bhagavān yajña-puruṣo jagarjāgendra-sannibhaḥ

Translation

当梵天与诸子沉思商议之时，至上人格神毗湿奴——祭祀之主（Yajña-Puruṣa）——如大山般轰然咆哮。

Synonyms

• इति: thus
• इति: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/वाक्य-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इति (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; वाक्यसमाप्तिसूचक/उद्धरणसूचक (indeclinable particle: thus)

• मीमांसतः: while deliberating/inquiring
• मीमांसतः: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मीमांस् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कृदन्त; शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमानकृदन्त (present active participle) ‘मीमांसत्’; प्रथमा/द्वितीया?—अत्र अव्ययीभावेन प्रयोगः ‘मीमांसतः’ = ‘मीमांसन्/विचारयन्’ (while deliberating)

• तस्य: of him/of that (Brahmā)
• तस्य: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/genitive), एकवचन (singular)

• ब्रह्मणः: of Brahmā
• ब्रह्मणः: Sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्रह्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग; षष्ठी (6th/genitive), एकवचन

• सह: together with
• सह: Sahartha (सहार्थ/सह-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; सह-योगे (with; governs instrumental)

• सूनुभिः: with (his) sons
• सूनुभिः: Sahakari (सहकारी/सह-तृतीया)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सूनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), बहुवचन (plural)

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा (1st/nominative), एकवचन

• यज्ञपुरुषः: the Lord as the Person of sacrifice
• यज्ञपुरुषः: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक) + पुरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (yajñasya puruṣaḥ)

• जगर्ज: roared
• जगर्ज: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: गर्ज् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अगेन्द्रसन्निभः: like a great mountain
• अगेन्द्रसन्निभः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अगेन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + सन्निभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा, एकवचन; उपमान-तत्पुरुष (agendra-sadṛśaḥ)

Purport

It appears that great hills and mountains also have their roaring power because they are also living entities. The volume of the sound vibrated is in proportion to the size of the material body. While Brahmā was guessing about the appearance of the Lord’s incarnation as a boar, the Lord confirmed Brahmā’s contemplation by roaring with His gorgeous voice.

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Yajña-puruṣa (Supreme Lord)
• Brahmā’s sons (Prajāpatis/Kumāras—collectively)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Yajña-puruṣa (the Lord of sacrifice)?

This verse identifies the Supreme Lord as Yajña-puruṣa—He is the ultimate enjoyer, goal, and controller of all sacrifices, and He personally manifests to guide cosmic order.

Why does the Lord roar like a lion in Bhagavatam Canto 3 Chapter 13?

The lion-like roar signals the Lord’s powerful arrival and decisive intervention, indicating that the Supreme Person is about to act in the unfolding Varāha-līlā to restore balance.

Practical application of trusting divine timing in modern life based on this shloka?

When solutions seem unclear even after sincere deliberation, this verse reminds one to continue thoughtful inquiry and devotion—help and clarity can manifest suddenly when the Lord’s purpose unfolds.