Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 41

Nārāyaṇa’s Impartiality, Absorption in Kṛṣṇa, and the Jaya–Vijaya Descent

Prelude to Prahlāda’s History

Devanagari script

हतो हिरण्यकशिपुर्हरिणा सिंहरूपिणा । हिरण्याक्षो धरोद्धारे बिभ्रता शौकरं वपु: ॥ ४१ ॥

Transliteration

hato hiraṇyakaśipur hariṇā siṁha-rūpiṇā hiraṇyākṣo dharoddhāre bibhratā śaukaraṁ vapuḥ

Translation

Appearing as Nṛsiṁhadeva, the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Śrī Hari, killed Hiraṇyakaśipu. When the Lord delivered the planet earth, which had fallen in the Garbhodaka Ocean, Hiraṇyākṣa tried to hinder Him, and then the Lord, as Varāha, killed Hiraṇyākṣa.

Synonyms

• हतः: was slain
• हतः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु) + क्त (कृत्) → हत (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘was slain’

• हिरण्यकशिपुः: Hiraṇyakaśipu
• हिरण्यकशिपुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिरण्यकशिपु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• हरिणा: by Hari
• हरिणा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन

• सिंह-रूपिणा: in lion-form
• सिंह-रूपिणा: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सिंह (प्रातिपदिक) + रूपिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (सिंहस्य रूपम् यस्य/सिंह-रूपिन्); पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन (agreeing with हरिणा)

• हिरण्याक्षः: Hiraṇyākṣa
• हिरण्याक्षः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिरण्याक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• धर-उद्धारे: in the lifting of the earth
• धर-उद्धारे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धर (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्धार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (धरे/पृथिव्याः उद्धारः); पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/अधिकरण), एकवचन

• बिभ्रता: bearing/assuming
• बिभ्रता: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भृ (धातु) + शतृ (कृत्) → बिभ्रत् (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; ‘while bearing/assuming’ (instrumental absolute-like usage)

• शौकरम्: boar-form
• शौकरम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शौकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; ‘boar-like’ (agreeing with वपुः)

• वपुः: body/form
• वपुः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वपुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Hiraṇyakaśipu
• Hiraṇyākṣa
• Nṛsiṁhadeva
• Varāhadeva

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Lord Narasimha killing Hiranyakashipu?

This verse states that Lord Hari took a lion form (Nṛsiṁha) and killed Hiraṇyakaśipu, showing the Lord’s decisive protection of dharma and His devotees.

Why is Hiranyaksha mentioned along with Hiranyakashipu in Canto 7 Chapter 1?

Śukadeva recalls both brothers’ deaths to summarize how the same Supreme Lord destroys powerful demons through different avatāras—Varāha during the earth’s rescue, and Nṛsiṁha in the slaying of Hiraṇyakaśipu.

Practical application of these avatar teachings in modern life?

Remember that divine protection may come in unexpected ways; cultivate steadiness in devotion and righteousness, trusting that arrogance and cruelty ultimately lead to defeat.