Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 3

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

Devanagari script

उत्पाता बहवस्तत्र निपेतुर्जायमानयो: । दिवि भुव्यन्तरिक्षे च लोकस्योरुभयावहा: ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

utpātā bahavas tatra nipetur jāyamānayoḥ divi bhuvy antarikṣe ca lokasyoru-bhayāvahāḥ

Translation

Bei der Geburt dieser beiden Dämonen traten in den Himmelswelten, auf der Erde und im Zwischenraum viele Naturstörungen auf, zugleich furchterregend und wunderlich.

Synonyms

• utpātāḥ: portents, omens
• utpātāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: utpāta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• bahavaḥ: many
• bahavaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); viśeṣaṇa of utpātāḥ

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (देशवाचक-अव्यय)

• nipetuḥ: fell/occurred
• nipetuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√pat (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्, Perfect), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन); Vedic/epic perfect ending -uḥ

• jāyamānayoḥ: of the two being born
• jāyamānayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jāyamāna (प्रातिपदिक; √jan ‘to be born’ + शानच्)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter (contextual), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Dual (द्विवचन); present participle; ‘of the two being born’

• divi: in the sky
• divi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: div (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• bhuvi: on the earth
• bhuvi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhū (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• antarikṣe: in the mid-region/atmosphere
• antarikṣe: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: antarikṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• lokasya: of the world
• lokasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• uru-bhaya-āvahāḥ: bringing great fear
• uru-bhaya-āvahāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uru (प्रातिपदिक) + bhaya (प्रातिपदिक) + āvaha (प्रातिपदिक; ā-√vah ‘to bring’ + a)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); उपपद-तत्पुरुषः: uruṁ bhayaṁ āvahanti iti = bringing great fear; viśeṣaṇa of utpātāḥ

Characters & Entities

• Hiraṇyākṣa
• Hiraṇyakaśipu

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about omens (utpāta) during the birth of demons?

This verse states that many terrifying portents arose in heaven, on earth, and in the sky as the two asuras were being born, indicating widespread fear and disturbance for the worlds.

Why did Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe these inauspicious signs to King Parīkṣit?

He narrates how cosmic order reacts to the rise of adharma; the appearance of omens at the asuras’ birth foreshadows their destructive impact and sets the mood for the coming conflict.

Practical application: what can devotees learn from descriptions of omens in the Bhagavatam?

The Bhagavatam teaches discernment—when adharma increases, disturbance follows; a devotee responds by strengthening sādhana, seeking shelter of Bhagavān, and cultivating steadiness rather than fear.