Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 30

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

Devanagari script

खुरै: क्षुरप्रैर्दरयंस्तदाप उत्पारपारं त्रिपरू रसायाम् । ददर्श गां तत्र सुषुप्सुरग्रे यां जीवधानीं स्वयमभ्यधत्त ॥ ३० ॥

Transliteration

khuraiḥ kṣuraprair darayaṁs tad āpa utpāra-pāraṁ tri-parū rasāyām dadarśa gāṁ tatra suṣupsur agre yāṁ jīva-dhānīṁ svayam abhyadhatta

Translation

主野猪以如利箭般锋锐的蹄穿破水域，深入罗娑底罗，竟见那似无边海洋之尽际。其间祂见大地——众生之所依——如创世之初般沉卧，遂亲自将其举起。

Synonyms

• खुरैः: with (his) hooves
• खुरैः: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन

• क्षुर-प्रैः: razor-sharp
• क्षुर-प्रैः: विशेषण (Qualifier of खुरैः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षुर (प्रातिपदिक) + प्र (प्रातिपदिक/उपसर्गवत्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (क्षुर इव प्राः/तीक्ष्णाः = razor-sharp)

• दरयन्: splitting, tearing
• दरयन्: कर्ता (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दॄ/दर् (धातु ‘to split’)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त, शतृ-प्रत्यय, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• तत्: that (region/place)
• तत्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (pronoun)

• आप: reached
• आप: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• उत्पार-पारम्: the near and far limits (both shores)
• उत्पार-पारम्: कर्म (Object/Goal)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्पार (प्रातिपदिक) + पार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्वन्द्व (उत्पारं च पारं च = the near and far shore/limits)

• त्रि-परू: three-jointed/three-segmented
• त्रि-परू: विशेषण (Qualifier of implicit subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + परु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु (त्रीणि परूणि यस्य/त्रिपरुः = having three joints/segments)

• रसायाम्: in Rasā (nether region)
• रसायाम्: अधिकरण (Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रसा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (अधिकरण/Locative), एकवचन

• ददर्श: saw
• ददर्श: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• गाम्: the earth/cow (earth)
• गाम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Adverbial location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक (locative adverb)

• सुषुप्सुः: as if asleep / wishing to sleep
• सुषुप्सुः: विशेषण (Qualifier of गाम्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुषुप्सु (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक from सुषुप् ‘to sleep’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; इच्छार्थक (desiderative sense: wishing to sleep)

• अग्रे: in front, ahead
• अग्रे: अधिकरण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः; सप्तमी-एकवचन-रूपेण अव्ययार्थ (adverb: in front/before)

• याम्: whom/which
• याम्: कर्म (Object; correlating to गाम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (relative pronoun)

• जीव-धानीम्: the abode/support of living beings
• जीव-धानीम्: कर्म (Object apposition to याम्/गाम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जीव (प्रातिपदिक) + धानी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (जीवानां धानी = abode/support of beings)

• स्वयम्: himself
• स्वयम्: विशेषण (Adverbial qualifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; स्वतः (adverb)

• अभ्यधत्त: placed/held (upon himself), took up
• अभ्यधत्त: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धा (धातु) + अभि- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Purport

The word rasāyām is sometimes interpreted to mean Rasātala, the lowest planetary system, but that is not applicable in this connection, according to Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura. The earth is seven times superior to the other planetary systems, namely Tala, Atala, Talātala, Vitala, Rasātala, Pātāla, etc. Therefore the earth cannot be situated in the Rasātala planetary system. It is described in the Viṣṇu-dharma:

Characters & Entities

• Lord Varaha
• Bhumi (Earth Goddess)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Lord Varaha rescuing the Earth?

This verse describes Lord Varaha crossing the subterranean ocean and beholding the Earth, who awaits His upliftment—showing the Lord’s active protection of creation and dharma.

Why did Shukadeva Gosvami describe Varaha’s razor-sharp hooves and crossing Rasatala?

To emphasize the Lord’s extraordinary divine power: He penetrates the cosmic waters and reaches the hidden lower regions to recover the Earth, demonstrating that no place is beyond His protection.

Practical application of this Varaha-lila in modern life?

When life feels “submerged” in anxiety or disorder, this verse inspires faith that the Supreme can lift one from the depths; a devotee responds by steady prayer, dharmic action, and remembrance of the Lord’s saving pastimes.