Srimad Bhagavatam — Tritiya Skandha, Shloka 16

Varāha Confronts Hiraṇyākṣa: The Challenge, the Rescue of Earth, and the Opening of the Mace-Duel

Devanagari script

पुनर्गदां स्वामादाय भ्रामयन्तमभीक्ष्णश: । अभ्यधावद्धरि: क्रुद्ध: संरम्भाद्दष्टदच्छदम् ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

punar gadāṁ svām ādāya bhrāmayantam abhīkṣṇaśaḥ abhyadhāvad dhariḥ kruddhaḥ saṁrambhād daṣṭa-dacchadam

Translation

Da nahm der Dämon seine Keule wieder auf und schwang sie unablässig, vor Wut auf die Lippe beißend; da stürmte auch Herr Hari, erzürnt, ihm entgegen.

Synonyms

• पुनः: again
• पुनः: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुनः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्ययम् (adverb: ‘again’)

• गदाम्: the mace
• गदाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्

• स्वाम्: his own
• स्वाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्; विशेषणम् (agreeing with गदाम्)

• आदाय: having taken
• आदाय: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + दा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्तः (gerund) from √दा ‘to take’ with आ-; ‘having taken’

• भ्रामयन्तम्: whirling
• भ्रामयन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भ्रामयत् (कृदन्त; √भ्रम् + णिच्)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त causative participle, पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्; ‘whirling (it)’

• अभीक्ष्णशः: repeatedly
• अभीक्ष्णशः: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अभीक्ष्णशः (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्ययम् (adverb: ‘repeatedly/again and again’)

• अभ्यधावत्: rushed
• अभ्यधावत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + धाव् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकारः (imperfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः एकवचनम्; √धाव् ‘to run’ with अभि-; ‘rushed toward’

• हरिः: Hari
• हरिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्

• क्रुद्धः: angry
• क्रुद्धः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रुद्ध (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक; √क्रुध् + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; विशेषणम्

• संरम्भात्: from rage
• संरम्भात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संरम्भ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे पञ्चमी एकवचनम् (ablative singular); हेतौ (cause) ‘from/through fury’

• दष्ट-दच्छदम्: biting his lip
• दष्ट-दच्छदम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दष्ट (कृदन्त; √दंश्/दश् + क्त) + दच्छद (प्रातिपदिक; दत्+छद ‘lip/covering of teeth’)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्; कर्मधारयः; ‘with bitten lip’ (lit. ‘bitten-lip’)

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Lord Varāha)
• Hiraṇyākṣa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Lord Varaha fighting Hiranyaksha?

This verse describes Lord Hari (Varāha) re-taking His mace and charging the demon as he keeps whirling his weapon—showing the Lord’s decisive protection of dharma through divine combat.

Why did Lord Hari become angry and rush forward in Canto 3 Chapter 18?

Hiraṇyākṣa repeatedly brandished and spun the mace in battle; provoked by the demon’s aggression, the Lord—stirred by combat—advanced swiftly, lips clenched in determined wrath.

Practical application of this Bhagavatam verse in modern life?

Stand firm against harmful forces: when adharma becomes relentless, respond with disciplined determination—protecting what is right without hesitation.