Shloka 8

The Slaying of Hiraṇyākṣa and the Triumph of Varāha

Devanagari script

करालदंष्ट्रश्चक्षुर्भ्यां सञ्चक्षाणो दहन्निव । अभिप्लुत्य स्वगदया हतोऽसीत्याहनद्धरिम् ॥ ८ ॥

Transliteration

karāla-daṁṣṭraś cakṣurbhyāṁ sañcakṣāṇo dahann iva abhiplutya sva-gadayā hato ’sīty āhanad dharim

Translation

The demon, with dreadful tusks, stared at Hari as if to burn Him with his eyes. Leaping into the air, he aimed his mace at the Lord and cried, “You are slain!”

Synonyms

• karāla-daṁṣṭraḥ: the one with terrible fangs
• karāla-daṁṣṭraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: karāla (विशेषण-प्रातिपदिक) + daṁṣṭrā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; बहुव्रीहिः—“करालाः दंष्ट्राः यस्य” (one who has fearsome fangs)

• cakṣurbhyām: with (his two) eyes
• cakṣurbhyām: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cakṣus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Dual (द्विवचन)

• sañcakṣāṇaḥ: looking intently
• sañcakṣāṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-√cakṣ (धातु) + śānac (शानच्)
• Form: Present middle participle (वर्तमान-आत्मनेपद शानच्), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; Masculine

• dahan: burning
• dahan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dah (धातु) + śatṛ (शतृ)
• Form: Present active participle (वर्तमान-कर्तरि शतृ), Nominative, Singular; Masculine

• iva: as if
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle of comparison (उपमा-निपात)

• abhiplutya: having rushed upon/leapt at
• abhiplutya: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-√plu (धातु) + ल्यप् (क्त्वा)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त/ल्यप्)

• sva-gadayā: with his own mace
• sva-gadayā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sva (प्रातिपदिक) + gadā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; तत्पुरुषः—“स्वस्य गदा”

• hataḥ: killed/struck down
• hataḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: han (धातु) + kta (क्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; used predicatively in direct speech

• asi: you are
• asi: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular

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

• āhanat: he struck
• āhanat: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-han (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular; parasmaipada

• harim: Hari (Vishnu)
• harim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

Characters & Entities

• Hiraṇyākṣa
• Hari (Lord Viṣṇu)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about demonic pride in battle?

This verse shows Hiraṇyākṣa’s arrogance—he boasts “You are slain!” even while attacking Lord Hari—illustrating how demonic pride blinds one to the Supreme’s invincibility.

Why did Hiraṇyākṣa shout “You are killed” to Lord Hari?

In the narrative of Canto 3, Hiraṇyākṣa is intoxicated by strength and hatred toward Viṣṇu; his taunt expresses overconfidence and contempt as he charges and strikes with his mace.

Practical application of this Bhagavatam verse in modern life?

It cautions against ego-driven certainty—when pride “burns” the mind, one misjudges reality; humility and devotion protect one from self-deception.