Shloka 2

The Slaying of Hiraṇyākṣa and the Triumph of Varāha

Devanagari script

तत: सपत्नं मुखतश्चरन्तमकुतोभयम् । जघानोत्पत्य गदया हनावसुरमक्षज: ॥ २ ॥

Transliteration

tataḥ sapatnaṁ mukhataś carantam akuto-bhayam jaghānotpatya gadayā hanāv asuram akṣajaḥ

Translation

Then the Lord Akṣaja, who had appeared from Brahmā’s nostril, sprang at His foe—the demon Hiraṇyākṣa, striding fearlessly before Him—and struck his chin with His mace.

Synonyms

• ततः: then/thereupon
• ततः: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• सपत्नम्: the rival/enemy
• सपत्नम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सपत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• मुखतः: from the front; facing
• मुखतः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मुखतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त (ablatival adverb)

• चरन्तम्: moving/advancing
• चरन्तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: चर् (धातु)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय (Present active participle), पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अकुतो-भयम्: fearless
• अकुतो-भयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अकुतः (अव्यय) + भय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नञ्/अव्यय-पूर्वपद-तत्पुरुषः—‘कुतोऽपि न भयम् यस्य’ (fearless)

• जघान: struck/killed
• जघान: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• उत्पत्य: leaping up
• उत्पत्य: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: उत्-पत् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund), ‘having leapt up’

• गदया: with a mace
• गदया: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• हनौ: on the jaw
• हनौ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हनु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• असुरम्: the demon
• असुरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अक्षजः: Akṣaja (the Lord)
• अक्षजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Akṣaja (Lord Viṣṇu/Varāha)
• Hiraṇyākṣa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Lord Varaha fighting Hiranyaksha?

This verse describes the Lord (Akṣaja/Varāha) leaping up and striking the approaching demon Hiraṇyākṣa on the jaw with His mace, showing the Lord’s decisive protection of dharma.

Why is the Lord called Akshaja in this verse?

He is called Akṣaja because He is beyond the reach of material senses and cannot be fully known by ordinary perception—yet He acts personally within the world to restore righteousness.

Practical application of divine protection in modern life according to this shloka?

The verse inspires steadiness: when challenges advance “face to face,” one can rely on sincere devotion and dharmic action, remembering that the Supreme can remove obstacles in decisive ways.