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Shloka 5

Vāmanadeva Praises Bali; the Measure of Three Steps; Śukrācārya Warns Against the Gift

यतो जातो हिरण्याक्षश्चरन्नेक इमां महीम् । प्रतिवीरं दिग्विजये नाविन्दत गदायुध: ॥ ५ ॥

yato jāto hiraṇyākṣaś carann eka imāṁ mahīm prativīraṁ dig-vijaye nāvindata gadāyudhaḥ

In your dynasty Hiraṇyākṣa was born. Alone, bearing only his own club as his weapon and without any assistance, he roamed the earth to conquer all directions, and no hero he met could rival him.

yataḥfrom whom; because
yataḥ:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootyataḥ (अव्यय/यद्-तस्)
FormRelative adverb (तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय) from yad; ‘from whom/wherefrom; because’
jātaḥborn
jātaḥ:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Root√jan (धातु)
FormPast passive participle (क्त/PPP) from √jan (जन्) ‘to be born’; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)
hiraṇyākṣaḥHiraṇyākṣa
hiraṇyākṣaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Roothiraṇya + akṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); bahuvrīhi: ‘one whose eyes are (like) gold’
caranroaming
caran:
Karta (कर्ता; participial)
TypeAdjective
Root√car (धातु)
FormPresent active participle (शतृ) from √car (चर्) ‘to roam’; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with hiraṇyākṣaḥ
ekaḥalone
ekaḥ:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rooteka (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन)
imāmthis
imām:
Visheshana (विशेषण)
TypeAdjective
Rootidam (प्रातिपदिक)
FormDemonstrative pronoun used adjectivally; Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); agrees with mahīm
mahīmearth
mahīm:
Karma (कर्म/Object)
TypeNoun
Rootmahī (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)
prati-vīramagainst every hero
prati-vīram:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootprati + vīra (प्रातिपदिक)
FormAvyayībhāva compound used adverbially; accusative-form fixed; meaning ‘against each hero’
dik-vijayein the conquest of the quarters
dik-vijaye:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootdiś + vijaya (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular (एकवचन); tatpuruṣa: dik (direction) + vijaya (conquest)
nanot
na:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootna (अव्यय)
FormNegation particle (निषेध-अव्यय)
avindatafound; obtained
avindata:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√vid (धातु)
FormImperfect (लङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन); parasmaipada; with augment a-
gadāyudhaḥthe mace-armed one
gadāyudhaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootgadā + āyudha (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular (एकवचन); bahuvrīhi: ‘he whose weapon is a mace’
H
Hiraṇyākṣa

FAQs

This verse says Hiraṇyākṣa wandered the earth alone and, while conquering all directions, could not find a warrior equal to challenge him—highlighting his unchecked power and pride.

The narration sets the scene for the asura’s arrogance and restlessness: despite dominating others, he remains dissatisfied, which foreshadows divine intervention to protect dharma and the earth.

Worldly conquest without humility breeds dissatisfaction; the Bhagavatam points seekers toward inner discipline, devotion, and reverence for divine order rather than ego-driven achievement.