Shloka 18

The Slaying of Hiraṇyākṣa and the Triumph of Varāha

Devanagari script

प्रववुर्वायवश्चण्डास्तम: पांसवमैरयन् । दिग्भ्यो निपेतुर्ग्रावाण: क्षेपणै: प्रहिता इव ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

pravavur vāyavaś caṇḍās tamaḥ pāṁsavam airayan digbhyo nipetur grāvāṇaḥ kṣepaṇaiḥ prahitā iva

Translation

Fierce winds began to blow from all directions, spreading darkness occasioned by dust and hail storms; stones came in volleys from every corner, as if thrown by machine guns.

Synonyms

• pravavuḥ: blew forth
• pravavuḥ: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-√vā (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• vāyavaḥ: winds
• vāyavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāyu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• caṇḍāḥ: fierce
• caṇḍāḥ: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृ-विशेषण/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: caṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adjective, Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifies vāyavaḥ

• tamaḥ: darkness
• tamaḥ: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tamas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• pāṁsavam: dusty, full of dust
• pāṁsavam: Karma-anvaya (कर्म-विशेषण/Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāṁsava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adjective, Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); qualifies tamaḥ

• airayan: stirred up, raised
• airayan: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√īr (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• digbhyaḥ: from the directions
• digbhyaḥ: Apādāna (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: diś (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• nipetuḥ: fell down
• nipetuḥ: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√pat (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• grāvāṇaḥ: stones, boulders
• grāvāṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: grāvan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• kṣepaṇaiḥ: by throwings, by missiles
• kṣepaṇaiḥ: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṣepaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• prahitāḥ: sent forth, hurled
• prahitāḥ: Karta-anvaya (कर्तृ-विशेषण/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-√hi (धातु) + ta (क्त)
• Form: Kṛdanta past passive participle (क्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); agrees with grāvāṇaḥ

• iva: as if, like
• iva: Upamā (उपमा/Comparison marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, simile particle (उपमा-वाचक)

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Varāha
• Hiraṇyākṣa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about omens during Lord Varaha’s battle?

This verse describes violent winds, dust-darkness, and stones falling from all directions—portents of intense cosmic upheaval as the Lord confronts a powerful demon.

Why are stones described as falling ‘as if hurled by engines of war’ in Canto 3?

Śukadeva uses a vivid comparison to convey the scale and force of the disturbance—like a battlefield where missiles are launched—highlighting the ferocity surrounding Varāha’s combat with Hiraṇyākṣa.

Practical application: what can a devotee learn from these frightening battle descriptions?

Even when the world feels turbulent and dark, the Bhagavatam reminds us that the Lord actively protects dharma; devotees can cultivate steadiness and faith amid upheaval.