Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 13

The Slaying of Hiraṇyākṣa and the Triumph of Varāha

Devanagari script

जग्राह त्रिशिखं शूलं ज्वलज्ज्वलनलोलुपम् । यज्ञाय धृतरूपाय विप्रायाभिचरन् यथा ॥ १३ ॥

Transliteration

jagrāha tri-śikhaṁ śūlaṁ jvalaj-jvalana-lolupam yajñāya dhṛta-rūpāya viprāyābhicaran yathā

Translation

He now took a trident which was as rapacious as a flaming fire and hurled it against the Lord, the enjoyer of all sacrifices, even as one would use penance for a malevolent purpose against a holy brāhmaṇa.

Synonyms

• जग्राह: seized
• जग्राह: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• त्रिशिखम्: three-pointed
• त्रिशिखम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + शिख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु: ‘त्रयः शिखाः यस्य’ (three-pointed)

• शूलम्: a trident/spear
• शूलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• ज्वलत्: blazing
• ज्वलत्: Karma-anvayi (कर्म-सम्बन्धी विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्वल् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासाङ्ग (पूर्वपद)

• ज्वलनलोलुपम्: craving flames
• ज्वलनलोलुपम्: Karma-anvayi (कर्म-सम्बन्धी विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ज्वलन (प्रातिपदिक) + लोलुप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘ज्वलने लोलुपम्’ (eager for flame; flame-hungry)

• यज्ञाय: for the sacrifice
• यज्ञाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति (Dative/सम्प्रदान), एकवचन

• धृतरूपाय: to one who has assumed a form
• धृतरूपाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धृत (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: ‘धृतं रूपं येन’ (who has assumed a form)

• विप्राय: to a brāhmaṇa
• विप्राय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, चतुर्थी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अभिचरन्: attacking
• अभिचरन्: Karta-anvayi (कर्तृ-सम्बन्धी विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अभि-चर् (धातु) + शतृ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘approaching/attacking’

• यथा: as
• यथा: Upamana (उपमान/दृष्टान्त)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा/प्रकार-अव्यय (as/just as)

Characters & Entities

• Hiraṇyākṣa
• Yajña (Lord Viṣṇu as sacrifice personified)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about demons opposing yajña (sacrifice)?

This verse portrays the asura’s nature as violently opposed to yajña—he attacks the Lord in His Yajña form, indicating that demoniac mentality disrupts sacrifice, dharma, and reverence for the sacred.

Why is the Lord called 'Yajña' in this verse?

The Bhagavatam identifies the Supreme Lord as the ultimate enjoyer and protector of sacrifice; here, He is addressed as Yajña because He has assumed a form connected with sustaining cosmic order through dharma and sacrificial principles.

Practical application: what is the modern lesson of this shloka?

Guard spiritual life from disruptive influences—protect sacred practices (worship, discipline, service) and cultivate respect for saintly persons, rather than adopting a hostile mentality that attacks what is holy.