Shloka 21

The Slaying of Hiraṇyākṣa and the Triumph of Varāha

Devanagari script

बहुभिर्यक्षरक्षोभि: पत्त्यश्वरथकुञ्जरै: । आततायिभिरुत्सृष्टा हिंस्रा वाचोऽतिवैशसा: ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

bahubhir yakṣa-rakṣobhiḥ patty-aśva-ratha-kuñjaraiḥ ātatāyibhir utsṛṣṭā hiṁsrā vāco ’tivaiśasāḥ

Translation

Cruel and savage slogans were uttered by hosts of ruffian Yakṣas and Rākṣasas, who all either marched on foot or rode on horses, elephants or chariots.

Synonyms

• बहुभिः: by many
• बहुभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण) बहुवचन; adjective used substantively/qualifying

• यक्ष-रक्षोभिः: by Yakṣas and Rākṣasas
• यक्ष-रक्षोभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यक्ष (प्रातिपदिक) + रक्षस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण) बहुवचन

• पत्ति-अश्व-रथ-कुञ्जरैः: by infantry, horses, chariots, and elephants
• पत्ति-अश्व-रथ-कुञ्जरैः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पत्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + अश्व (प्रातिपदिक) + रथ (प्रातिपदिक) + कुञ्जर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाहार-द्वन्द्व (collective); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण) बहुवचन

• आततायिभिः: by assailants/attackers
• आततायिभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आततायिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण) बहुवचन

• उत्सृष्टाः: released/uttered
• उत्सृष्टाः: Karta (कर्ता) (as predicate adjective of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उत्-√सृज् (धातु) → उत्सृष्ट (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि/भूतकृत; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन; agrees with वाचः

• हिंस्राः: violent, harmful
• हिंस्राः: Karta (कर्ता) (as predicate adjective of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हिंस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन; agrees with वाचः

• वाचः: words, utterances
• वाचः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाच् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन (also could be द्वितीया बहुवचन by form; here subject)

• अतिवैशसाः: exceedingly cruel
• अतिवैशसाः: Karta (कर्ता) (as predicate adjective of subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति-वैशस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव (अति + वैशस); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा बहुवचन; agrees with वाचः

Characters & Entities

• Yakṣas
• Rākṣasas

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about demoniac aggression in Canto 3?

This verse depicts the demoniac side—Yakṣas and Rākṣasas acting as aggressors—expressing their nature through savage, violent cries and coordinated attack formations, highlighting aggression as a symptom of adharma.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe the violent cries of Yakṣas and Rākṣasas here?

In the narrative of Canto 3, Chapter 19, Śukadeva intensifies the battlefield atmosphere around the Lord’s conflict with Hiraṇyākṣa’s forces, contrasting their brutality with the Lord’s purposeful, dharma-restoring action.

Practical application of this verse in modern life?

It teaches discernment: recognize aggression and cruelty as signs of destructive consciousness, and respond by taking shelter of dharma—self-control, nonviolence in speech, and devotion—rather than being swept into the same hostile mindset.