Shloka 5

हिरण्यकशिपोः क्रोधः तथा देवप्रजाकदनम् — Hiraṇyakaśipu’s Wrath and the Affliction of Devas and Beings

Devanagari script

ततः प्रजानां कदनं विधातुं कदनप्रियान् । निर्दिदेशाऽसुरान्वीरान्हरि वैरप्रियो हि सः

Transliteration

tataḥ prajānāṃ kadanaṃ vidhātuṃ kadanapriyān | nirdideśā'surānvīrānhari vairapriyo hi saḥ

Translation

Then Hari—who was indeed fond of hostility—commanded the heroic asuras, who delighted in slaughter, to set about the destruction of the people.

Word by Word

• ततः: then
• ततः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; sequence adverb

• प्रजानाम्: of the people
• प्रजानाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रजा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, बहुवचन

• कदनम्: slaughter / destruction
• कदनम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; object of ‘विधातुम्’

• विधातुम्: to accomplish / to carry out
• विधातुम्: प्रयोजन (Purpose/Infinitive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-√धा (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्यय (infinitive), अव्ययभाव; purpose infinitive

• कदन-प्रियान्: fond of slaughter
• कदन-प्रियान्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कदन (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: कदनं प्रियं येषाम्/कदनस्य प्रियाः; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; qualifying ‘असुरान् वीरान्’

• निर्दिदेश: commanded / ordered
• निर्दिदेश: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-√दिश् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदी; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• असुरान्: the demons
• असुरान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• वीरान्: valiant
• वीरान्: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; qualifying ‘असुरान्’

• हरिः: Hari
• हरिः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• वैर-प्रियः: fond of enmity
• वैर-प्रियः: विशेषण (Predicate qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वैर (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: वैरस्य प्रियः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicate adjective of ‘हरिः’

• हि: indeed / for
• हि: सम्बन्ध (Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic/causal particle)

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (Copular subject complement)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

Speaker

Suta Goswami

Shaiva Theology

Tattva Level: pasha

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Asuras
• Prajā (people/subjects)

FAQs

What is the spiritual significance of this verse in the Shiva Purana?

The verse highlights how adharma expresses itself through hatred and needless violence against innocent beings; in Shaiva understanding, such tamasic impulses bind the soul (paśu) more tightly to pāśa (bondage), and the narrative sets the stage for Shiva’s protection of dharma and restoration of order.

How does this verse relate to the worship of the Linga or Saguna Shiva?

In the Yuddha-khaṇḍa setting, rising violence and oppression become the very reason devotees seek refuge in Saguna Shiva as protector; Linga-worship symbolizes turning from destructive enmity to the steady, auspicious presence of Shiva who dissolves fear and re-establishes dharma.

What ritualistic or meditative practice is suggested here?

A practical takeaway is to counter enmity with Shiva-centered discipline: japa of the Pañcākṣarī mantra (Om Namaḥ Śivāya) and wearing rudrākṣa with a vow of ahiṃsā (non-harm), transforming anger into devotion and inner restraint.