Shloka 37

Devanagari script

त्रैलोक्यं यज्ञभागाश् च दैत्यैर् ह्रादपुरोगमैः हृतं नो ब्रह्मणो ऽप्य् आज्ञाम् उल्लङ्घ्य परमेश्वर

Transliteration

trailokyaṃ yajñabhāgāś ca daityair hrādapurogamaiḥ hṛtaṃ no brahmaṇo 'py ājñām ullaṅghya parameśvara

Translation

O Supreme Lord, the Daityas—led by Hrāda—have seized the three worlds and our rightful shares in the sacrifices, trampling even the command of Brahmā.

Word by Word

• trailokyam: the three worlds
• trailokyam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tri (प्रातिपदिक) + loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (triṇāṃ lokānām samāhāraḥ); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Case 1/2), एकवचन

• yajña-bhāgāḥ: shares of sacrifice
• yajña-bhāgāḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yajña (प्रातिपदिक) + bhāga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (yajñasya bhāgāḥ); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Case 1), बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात (conjunction)

• daityaiḥ: by the Daityas
• daityaiḥ: Karana (Agent-instrumental/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daitya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Case 3), बहुवचन

• hrāda-purogamaiḥ: with Hrāda at their head
• hrāda-purogamaiḥ: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hrāda (प्रातिपदिक) + purogama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (hrādaḥ puraḥ yeṣām); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (Case 3), बहुवचन; विशेषण

• hṛtam: has been taken away
• hṛtam: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √hṛ (धातु) → hṛta (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (PPP), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Case 1), एकवचन; कर्मणि-प्रयोगे विधेय (predicate)

• naḥ: of us / from us
• naḥ: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Case 6) बहुवचन; सर्वनाम

• brahmaṇaḥ: of Brahmā
• brahmaṇaḥ: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Case 6), एकवचन

• api: even
• api: Sambandha (Particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: अपि-निपात (particle: even/also)

• ājñām: command
• ājñām: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ājñā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Case 2), एकवचन

• ullaṅghya: having transgressed
• ullaṅghya: Kriya-visheshana (Prior action/पूर्वक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ud + √laṅgh (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive), अव्ययभाव (indeclinable)

• parameśvara: O Supreme Lord
• parameśvara: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parama (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

Speaker

The Devas (gods), addressing Lord Vishnu (Parameśvara)

Cosmological Context

Cosmic Hierarchy: Lokas

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: When adharma disrupts yajña and violates the cosmic command (ājñā), the appeal to the Supreme is for restoration of ṛta/dharma that sustains the worlds.

Vedantic Theme: Dharma

Application: Protect ‘yajña’ in modern form—selfless duty and sacred reciprocity—by resisting exploitative disorder and supporting institutions of ethical balance.

Vishishtadvaita: Frames dharma (including yajña as cosmic reciprocity) as part of the Lord’s governance of a real world, not illusory—consistent with Viśiṣṭādvaita’s affirmation of meaningful order.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Brahma
• Daityas
• Devas
• Hrada
• Trailokya

FAQs

What is the significance of yajñabhāga (shares of sacrifice) in the Vishnu Purana?

Yajñabhāga represents the divinely ordained portions of worship that sustain the Devas’ cosmic functions; its seizure by the Daityas symbolizes the disruption of dharma and universal order.

How does the Vishnu Purana frame the Devas’ appeal to Vishnu in this episode?

The Devas present a legal-moral grievance—Daityas have violated even Brahmā’s ordinance—thereby invoking Vishnu as the supreme governor who restores rightful order beyond subordinate authorities.

What is the theological importance of calling Vishnu 'Parameśvara' here?

It underscores Vishnu’s status as the highest sovereign reality: when Brahmā’s command is transgressed, the Devas turn to Vishnu as the ultimate source of protection, justice, and cosmic stability.