Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 21

Portents at the Birth of Diti’s Sons and Hiraṇyākṣa Challenges Varuṇa

Devanagari script

तं वीक्ष्य दु:सहजवं रणत्काञ्चननूपुरम् । वैजयन्त्या स्रजा जुष्टमंसन्यस्तमहागदम् ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

taṁ vīkṣya duḥsaha-javaṁ raṇat-kāñcana-nūpuram vaijayantyā srajā juṣṭam aṁsa-nyasta-mahā-gadam

Translation

Hiraṇyākṣa’s temper was difficult to control. He had anklets of gold tinkling about his feet, he was adorned with a gigantic garland, and he rested his huge mace on one of his shoulders.

Synonyms

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• वीक्ष्य: having seen
• वीक्ष्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल; prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वीक्ष् (धातु) + ल्यप् (अव्ययीभाव/क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), ‘दृष्ट्वा’

• दुःसहजवम्: of irresistible speed
• दुःसहजवम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दुःसह + जव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘दुःसहः जवः यस्य’ (as adjectival compound)

• रणत्काञ्चननूपुरम्: with jingling golden anklets
• रणत्काञ्चननूपुरम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रणत् (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + काञ्चन + नूपुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः (कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-श्रृंखला) ‘रणत् काञ्चन-नूपुरः यस्य’

• वैजयन्त्या: with the Vaijayantī (garland)
• वैजयन्त्या: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वैजयन्ती (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• स्रजा: with a garland
• स्रजा: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्रज् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• जुष्टम्: adorned
• जुष्टम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: जुष् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘शोभितम्/सेवितम्’

• अंसन्यस्तमहागदम्: bearing a huge mace placed on his shoulder
• अंसन्यस्तमहागदम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अंस + न्यस्त (नि+अस्/स्था?; √अस्/स्था not; here न्यस् from √अस्? actually √न्यस् not; treat as न्यस्/स्था) + महा + गद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः अंस-न्यस्त + महा-गद (तत्पुरुष-श्रृंखला) ‘अंसे न्यस्ता महागदा यस्य’

Characters & Entities

• Hiraṇyākṣa

FAQs

Who is being described in Srimad Bhagavatam 3.17.21?

This verse describes Hiraṇyākṣa, portrayed as extremely swift, wearing clanging golden anklets, adorned with a Vaijayantī garland, and carrying a huge mace on his shoulder.

What is the significance of the Vaijayantī garland mentioned in Bhagavatam 3.17.21?

The verse uses “Vaijayantī” as a striking ornamentation detail—highlighting the grandeur and intimidating splendor of the character being described in the battle narrative.

Practical application: what does this verse teach a devotee today?

It reminds readers that worldly power and impressive external splendor can belong even to ungodly forces; therefore, one should value devotion and character over mere display of strength.