Shloka 12

The Slaying of Hiraṇyākṣa and the Triumph of Varāha

Devanagari script

स्वपौरुषे प्रतिहते हतमानो महासुर: । नैच्छद्गदां दीयमानां हरिणा विगतप्रभ: ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

sva-pauruṣe pratihate hata-māno mahāsuraḥ naicchad gadāṁ dīyamānāṁ hariṇā vigata-prabhaḥ

Translation

His prowess thwarted, the great demon felt humiliated and lost his luster; he was reluctant to take back the mace when Hari offered it to him.

Synonyms

• स्वपौरुषे: in his own prowess
• स्वपौरुषे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + पौरुष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/अधिकरण), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘स्वस्य पौरुषम्’ (one’s own prowess)

• प्रतिहते: when repelled
• प्रतिहते: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रति-हन् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘when (it was) repelled/struck down’

• हतमानः: with pride wounded
• हतमानः: Karta-anvayi (कर्तृ-सम्बन्धी विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हत (प्रातिपदिक) + मान (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘हतः मानः यस्य’ (his pride/honor struck)

• महासुरः: the great demon
• महासुरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘महान् असुरः’

• न: not
• न: Nishedha (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• ऐच्छत्: desired/accepted
• ऐच्छत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इष् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• गदाम्: the mace
• गदाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दीयमानाम्: being offered
• दीयमानाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दा (धातु) + यमान (कृदन्त; कर्मणि वर्तमान-प्रत्यय)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (कर्मणि/Passive present participle), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘being given’

• हरिणा: by Hari
• हरिणा: Kartr-karana (कर्तृ-करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/करण), एकवचन

• विगतप्रभः: deprived of luster
• विगतप्रभः: Karta-anvayi (कर्तृ-सम्बन्धी विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विगत (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: ‘विगता प्रभा यस्य’ (whose splendor is gone)

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Lord Viṣṇu as Varāha)
• Hiraṇyākṣa

FAQs

Why did Hiraṇyākṣa refuse the mace offered by Lord Varāha (Hari)?

Because his pride was shattered when his strength was checked; out of wounded ego and humiliation, he would not accept the Lord’s offered weapon.

What does this verse teach about pride in the Bhagavata Purana?

It shows that when the Lord curbs one’s false confidence, the ego may resist even what is offered for one’s own good—revealing how pride blocks grace and right action.

How can I apply this teaching in modern life?

When corrected or humbled, choose receptivity over defensiveness—accept guidance and make amends rather than letting wounded pride control your decisions.