Shloka 6

The Slaying of Hiraṇyākṣa and the Triumph of Varāha

Devanagari script

तं व्यग्रचक्रं दितिपुत्राधमेन स्वपार्षदमुख्येन विषज्जमानम् । चित्रा वाचोऽतद्विदां खेचराणां तत्र स्मासन् स्वस्ति तेऽमुं जहीति ॥ ६ ॥

Transliteration

taṁ vyagra-cakraṁ diti-putrādhamena sva-pārṣada-mukhyena viṣajjamānam citrā vāco ’tad-vidāṁ khe-carāṇāṁ tatra smāsan svasti te ’muṁ jahīti

Translation

As the Lord’s Sudarśana discus whirled in His hand and He grappled at close quarters with Hiraṇyākṣa—the vile son of Diti, born as the chief of His own Vaikuṇṭha attendants—strange cries rose from every side from those watching in aerial chariots, ignorant of the Lord’s true nature: “Victory and auspiciousness to You! Slay him! Do not sport with him any longer!”

Synonyms

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• vyagra-cakram: with the whirling discus
• vyagra-cakram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vyagra (विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक) + cakra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; कर्मधारयः—“व्यग्रं चक्रं यस्य/यत्र” (having a whirling/active discus)

• diti-putra-adhamena: by the lowest of Diti’s sons
• diti-putra-adhamena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: diti (प्रातिपदिक) + putra (प्रातिपदिक) + adhama (विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—“दितेः पुत्रः” + विशेषण “अधम”

• sva-pārṣada-mukhyena: by his chief attendant
• sva-pārṣada-mukhyena: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + pārṣada (प्रातिपदिक) + mukhya (विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः—“स्वस्य पार्षदः” + “मुख्य”

• viṣajjamānam: clinging/attacking (closely engaging)
• viṣajjamānam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-ṣajj (धातु) + śatṛ (शतृ-प्रत्यय)
• Form: Present active participle (वर्तमान-कर्तरि शतृ), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; Masculine agreeing with “tam”

• citrāḥ: variegated/strange
• citrāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: citra (विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); qualifies “vācaḥ”

• vācaḥ: words/cries
• vācaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāc (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• a-tad-vidām: of the ignorant (who did not know him)
• a-tad-vidām: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: a- (नञ्) + tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + vid (धातु) → vid (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक “विद्/विद्वस्” sense)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural; नञ्-तत्पुरुषः—“तद् न विदन्ति ये” (those who do not know that)

• khe-carāṇām: of the celestial beings/sky-goers
• khe-carāṇām: Shashthi-sambandha (षष्ठी-सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kha (प्रातिपदिक) + cara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural; तत्पुरुषः—“खे चरन्ति ये” (sky-goers)

• tatra: there
• tatra: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatra (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) of place

• sma: indeed/then (narrative particle)
• sma: Sambandha/Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sma (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), past-narrative marker

• āsan: were
• āsan: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• svasti: hail! well-being!
• svasti: Sambodhana/Discourse (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: svasti (अव्यय)
• Form: Interjection/benedictive particle (मङ्गल-निपात)

• te: to you
• te: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular; enclitic pronoun

• amum: that one (him)
• amum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adas (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• jahi: kill!
• jahi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: han (धातु)
• Form: Imperative (लोट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha/Quotation marker (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (इति-निपात) marking end of speech

Characters & Entities

• Hiraṇyākṣa
• Diti
• Śrī Hari (Varāha/Viṣṇu)
• Khecaras (celestial sky-dwellers)
• The Lord’s chief attendant (pārṣada-mukhya)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the demigods cheering during Viṣṇu’s battle with Hiraṇyākṣa?

This verse describes sky-dwelling beings calling out “Victory to You—kill him!” as the Lord’s discus whirls in combat, showing how even those not fully situated in tattva still instinctively seek the Lord’s triumph over adharma.

Why do the khecaras say ‘Kill him’ if they are called a-tad-vidām (not knowing the truth)?

Their cries are emotionally supportive but not rooted in deep spiritual understanding; the narration contrasts superficial excitement with true knowledge of the Lord’s supreme position and purpose.

Practical application of this shloka in modern life?

Support what is righteous, but also cultivate right understanding—move from reactive cheering to informed devotion by studying śāstra and aligning one’s actions with dharma.