FolioCorpusŚrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.17.26

स वर्षपूगानुदधौ महाबल- श्चरन्महोर्मीञ्‍छ्वसनेरितान्मुहु: । मौर्व्याभिजघ्ने गदया विभावरी- मासेदिवांस्तात पुरीं प्रचेतस: ॥ २६ ॥
sa varṣa-pūgān udadhau mahā-balaś
[sa varsha-poogaan udadhau mahaa-balash]
caran mahormīṣ chvasaneritān muhuḥ
[charan mahormeesh chvasaneritaan muhuh]
maurvyābhijaghne gadayā vibhāvarīm
[maurvyaabhijaghne gadayaa vibhaavareem]
āsedivāṁs tāta purīṁ pracetasaḥ
[aasedivaams taata pureem prachetasah]
saḥ — he varṣa-pūgān — for many years udadhau — in the ocean mahā-balaḥ — mighty caran — moving mahā-ūrmīn — gigantic waves śvasana — by the wind īritān — tossed muhuḥ — again and again maurvyā — iron abhijaghne — he struck gadayā — with his mace vibhāvarīm — Vibhāvarī āsedivān — reached tāta — O dear Vidura purīm — the capital pracetasaḥ — of Varuṇa.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
sa varṣa-pūgān udadhau mahā-balaś
saḥ
he
varṣa-pūgān
for many years
udadhau
in the ocean
mahā-balaḥ
mighty
caran mahormīṣ chvasaneritān muhuḥ
caran
moving
mahā-ūrmīn
gigantic waves
śvasana
by the wind
īritān
tossed
muhuḥ
again and again
maurvyābhijaghne gadayā vibhāvarīm
maurvyā
iron
abhijaghne
he struck
gadayā
with his mace
vibhāvarīm
Vibhāvarī
āsedivāṁs tāta purīṁ pracetasaḥ
āsedivān
reached
tāta
O dear Vidura
purīm
the capital
pracetasaḥ
of Varuṇa.
Moving about in the ocean for many, many years, the mighty Hiraṇyākṣa smote the gigantic wind-tossed waves again and again with his iron mace and reached Vibhāvarī, the capital of Varuṇa.

Varuṇa is supposed to be the predominating deity of the waters, and his capital, which is known as Vibhāvarī, is within the watery kingdom.

— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya
Translation
The powerful demon moved about in the ocean for many years, striking with his iron club the huge waves agitated by wind. He then reached the city of Varuṇa called Vibhāvarī. Over many years (varṣa-pūgān) he struck even the huge waves with his club made of iron (maurvyā). Maurvyā can also mean “made of a type of grass called mūrvā.” He moved about (caran). He came to the city called Vibhāvarī and thought, “There is a city here. I will enter it.”
The verse points beyond impersonal abstraction to a Lord who hears, acts, and relates. Spiritual life gets real once we stop talking about Him and start talking to Him.
Reflection Questions
  • What in your life are you treating as 'mine' that the verse would call 'His'?
  • How does relating to a person, rather than a principle, change how you speak in prayer?
📝 My note

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