Shloka 18

Manvantara Enumerations Begin: Svāyambhuva’s Austerity, Yajñapati’s Protection, and the Avatāras up to Hari

Gajendra Prelude

Devanagari script

तांस्तथावसितान् वीक्ष्य यज्ञ: सर्वगतो हरि: । यामै: परिवृतो देवैर्हत्वाशासत् त्रिविष्टपम् ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

tāṁs tathāvasitān vīkṣya yajñaḥ sarva-gato hariḥ yāmaiḥ parivṛto devair hatvāśāsat tri-viṣṭapam

Translation

Seeing them poised to devour Manu, Hari—the all-pervading Lord within everyone’s heart—appeared as Yajñapati. Surrounded by His sons known as the Yāmas and by the other devas, He slew the rākṣasas and demons; then He assumed the post of Indra and ruled the heavenly realm.

Synonyms

• tān: them
• tān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Pronoun; Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural

• tathā-avasitān: thus determined
• tathā-avasitān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tathā (अव्यय) + ava√sā (धातु) + kta (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त) 'avasita' with adverb 'tathā'; Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural; 'so resolved/determined'

• vīkṣya: having seen
• vīkṣya: Hetu (हेतु/circumstantial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vi-√īkṣ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (ल्यप्/क्त्वार्थ), avyaya; 'having seen'

• yajñaḥ: Yajña (the Lord as sacrifice)
• yajñaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yajña (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• sarva-gataḥ: all-pervading
• sarva-gataḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva + gata (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya (कर्मधारय): सर्वत्र गतः; Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; qualifying 'yajñaḥ/hariḥ'

• hariḥ: Hari
• hariḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; apposition to 'yajñaḥ'

• yāmaiḥ: by the Yāmas (attendant deities)
• yāmaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• parivṛtaḥ: surrounded
• parivṛtaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pari-√vṛ (धातु) + kta (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; 'surrounded'

• devaiḥ: by the gods
• devaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• hatvā: having slain
• hatvā: Hetu (हेतु/circumstantial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: han (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त), avyaya; 'having slain'

• aśāsat: he ruled/governed
• aśāsat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √śās (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Singular

• tri-viṣṭapam: the three worlds/heaven
• tri-viṣṭapam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri + viṣṭapa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvigu (द्विगु) compound: त्रयः विष्टपाः (three worlds/heavenly regions); Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

Purport

The various names of the demigods — Lord Brahmā, Lord Śiva, Lord Indra and so on — are not personal names; they are names of different posts. In this regard, we understand that Lord Viṣṇu sometimes becomes Brahmā or Indra when there is no suitable person to occupy these posts.

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Yajña
• Yāmas
• Devas

FAQs

Who is Yajña in Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 8 Chapter 1?

In this verse, Yajña is identified with Hari (Viṣṇu)—the Lord appearing as the personified sacrifice who protects cosmic order.

What does Bhagavatam 8.1.18 say about how the devas are protected?

It states that when the devas were overwhelmed, Hari (as Yajña), accompanied by the Yāmas, destroyed the aggressors and re-established order in Svarga.

How can this verse be applied in modern devotional life?

It teaches trust that the Lord restores dharma when one is helpless—encouraging steady bhakti, prayer, and alignment with righteous duty even in crisis.