Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 5

The Slaying of Hiraṇyākṣa and the Triumph of Varāha

Devanagari script

गदायामपविद्धायां हाहाकारे विनिर्गते । मानयामास तद्धर्मं सुनाभं चास्मरद्विभु: ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

gadāyām apaviddhāyāṁ hāhā-kāre vinirgate mānayām āsa tad-dharmaṁ sunābhaṁ cāsmarad vibhuḥ

Translation

As the Lord’s mace fell to the ground and a cry of alarm arose from the witnessing crowd of gods and ṛṣis, the Personality of Godhead acknowledged the demon’s love of righteousness and therefore invoked His Sudarśana discus.

Synonyms

• गदायाम्: when/while the mace (was)
• गदायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• अपविद्धायाम्: having been thrown away
• अपविद्धायाम्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अप-विद्/अप-वेध् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (Past passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute) with गदायाम्

• हाहा-कारे: in the cry of ‘hā hā’
• हाहा-कारे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हाहा (अव्यय-ध्वन्यनुकरण) + कार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः—‘हाहा इति कारः’ (cry of ‘hā hā’)

• विनिर्गते: having arisen/come forth
• विनिर्गते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-निर्-गम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्यय (Past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सति-सप्तमी (locative absolute) with हाहा-कारे

• मानयामास: honored/respected
• मानयामास: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मान् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Periphrastic perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद (मानयाम् + आस)

• तत्-धर्मम्: that righteous principle
• तत्-धर्मम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + धर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—‘तस्य धर्मः’ (that duty/principle)

• सुनाभम्: Sunābha (name of the mace/discus; here mace)
• सुनाभम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुनाभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चय (conjunction)

• अस्मरत्: remembered
• अस्मरत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्मृ (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• विभुः: the all-powerful Lord
• विभुः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विभु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• The Supreme Lord (Varāha)
• Sudarśana Cakra

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about dharma even in battle?

This verse shows the Lord Himself honoring the proper code of combat, demonstrating that dharma is to be respected even amid conflict.

Why did the Lord remember Sudarshana in this scene?

As the battle intensified and the situation shifted, the Lord recalled His divine discus, indicating readiness to protect righteousness and conclude the fight according to His will.

Practical application of following dharma in modern life?

Even under pressure—arguments, competition, or crisis—act within ethical boundaries, remembering higher principles rather than reacting impulsively.