Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 24

Hiraṇyakaśipu’s Austerities and Brahmā’s Boons

The Architecture of ‘Conditional Immortality’

Devanagari script

स निरीक्ष्याम्बरे देवं हंसवाहमुपस्थितम् । ननाम शिरसा भूमौ तद्दर्शनमहोत्सव: ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

sa nirīkṣyāmbare devaṁ haṁsa-vāham upasthitam nanāma śirasā bhūmau tad-darśana-mahotsavaḥ

Translation

Seeing Lord Brahmā present in the sky upon his swan carrier, Hiraṇyakaśipu was filled with great joy. Taking that darśana as a grand festival, he at once fell flat, placing his head upon the ground, and offered reverent obeisance.

Synonyms

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• निरीक्ष्य: having seen
• निरीक्ष्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ईक्ष् (धातु) → निरीक्ष्य (कृदन्त, ल्यप्/क्त्वा-समकक्ष)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund); नि+ईक्ष्; having looked/after seeing

• अम्बरे: in the sky
• अम्बरे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्बर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Locative singular

• देवम्: the god
• देवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• हंस-वाहम्: whose vehicle is a swan
• हंस-वाहम्: Viśeṣaṇa of Karma (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हंस (प्रातिपदिक) + वाह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Accusative singular; तत्पुरुष (हंसः वाहनं यस्य)

• उपस्थितम्: present/arrived
• उपस्थितम्: Viśeṣaṇa of Karma (कर्म-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्था (धातु) → उपस्थित (कृदन्त, क्त; उप+स्था)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; agrees with देवम्

• ननाम: bowed
• ननाम: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नम् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Perfect 3rd sg

• शिरसा: with (his) head
• शिरसा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिरस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Instrumental singular

• भूमौ: on the ground
• भूमौ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Locative singular

• तत्-दर्शन-महोत्सवः: (he,) for whom that sight was a great festival
• तत्-दर्शन-महोत्सवः: Karta (कर्ता) (apposition to सः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + दर्शन (प्रातिपदिक) + महोत्सव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nominative singular; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष (तस्य दर्शनस्य महोत्सवः)

Purport

Lord Kṛṣṇa says in Bhagavad-gītā (9.23-24):

Characters & Entities

• Hiraṇyakaśipu
• Brahmā

FAQs

Why did Brahmā appear to Hiraṇyakaśipu in Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 7?

Because Hiraṇyakaśipu performed severe austerities; Brahmā, as the cosmic administrator, became pleased and appeared to grant him boons.

What is the meaning of Brahmā being described as 'haṁsa-vāhana'?

It means Brahmā’s carrier is the swan (haṁsa), a symbol of discernment and purity; the verse highlights Brahmā’s divine arrival in the sky.

What practical lesson does this shloka give for modern life?

It shows the power of focused discipline and reverence—yet also hints that spiritual or material achievements should be guided by right intention, not ego.