Shloka 1

पुनर्जन्म-दैत्यावतार-यादववंशमहिमा

Rebirth, Daitya Incarnations, and the Glory of the Yādava/Vṛṣṇi Line

Devanagari script

हिरण्यकशिपुत्वे च रावणत्वे च विष्णुना अवाप निहतो भोगान् अप्राप्यान् अमरैर् अपि

Transliteration

hiraṇyakaśiputve ca rāvaṇatve ca viṣṇunā avāpa nihato bhogān aprāpyān amarair api

Translation

Even as Hiraṇyakaśipu, and again as Rāvaṇa, though struck down by Lord Viṣṇu, he attained enjoyments—rewards beyond the reach of even the immortals.

Word by Word

• हिरण्यकशिपुत्वे: in (the condition of) being Hiraṇyakaśipu
• हिरण्यकशिपुत्वे: अधिकरण (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिरण्यकशिपु (प्रातिपदिक) + त्व (तद्धित-प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; भाववाचक-तद्धितान्त (त्व) — "in the state of being Hiraṇyakaśipu"

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• रावणत्वे: in (the condition of) being Rāvaṇa
• रावणत्वे: अधिकरण (Locative/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रावण (प्रातिपदिक) + त्व (तद्धित-प्रत्यय)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/सप्तमी), एकवचन; भाववाचक-तद्धितान्त (त्व) — "in the state of being Rāvaṇa"

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• विष्णुना: by Viṣṇu
• विष्णुना: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

• अवाप: attained/obtained
• अवाप: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्शभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• निहतः: slain
• निहतः: कर्तृ-विशेषण (Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि-हन् (धातु) → निहत (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्मणि-भाव (past passive participle)

• भोगान्: enjoyments
• भोगान्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भोग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन

• अप्राप्यान्: unattainable
• अप्राप्यान्: कर्म-विशेषण (Object qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-प्राप्य (कृदन्त, यत्/य) from प्र-आप् (धातु)
• Form: नञ्-पूर्वक यत्/य-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (gerundive/अनर्हता); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; भोगान् इति विशेषण

• अमरैः: by the immortals (gods)
• अमरैः: करण (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अमर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन

• अपि: even
• अपि: सम्बन्ध/निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अवधान/अप्यर्थ (particle: even/also)

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Avatara Context

Avatara: Narasimha

Purpose: To destroy Hiraṇyakaśipu and protect the devotee Prahlāda, re-establishing dharma.

Leela: Yuddha

Dharma Restored: Protection of bhakti and the divine order against tyrannical adharma.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Contact with Viṣṇu—even as an enemy slain by Him—can yield supra-divine attainments beyond ordinary celestial enjoyments.

Vedantic Theme: Moksha

Application: Cultivate God-centeredness and avoid envy; recognize that the Lord’s grace can transform even hostile dispositions into a path toward purification.

Vishishtadvaita: Viṣṇu’s saving power operates through His personal agency; liberation/attainment is granted by the Lord’s will, not merely by impersonal mechanism.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Characters & Entities

• Vishnu
• Hiraṇyakaśipu
• Rāvaṇa
• Amaras (Devas/Immortals)

FAQs

What is the significance of Hiranyakashipu and Ravana being mentioned together in the Vishnu Purana?

The verse pairs two archetypal opponents of dharma to show a consistent Purāṇic principle: direct encounter with Viṣṇu is spiritually consequential, and even adversarial contact can yield extraordinary posthumous fruits.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the idea of rewards beyond even the devas?

By stating that the slain enemy 'attained enjoyments unattainable by the immortals,' Parāśara highlights Viṣṇu as the ultimate dispenser of results—surpassing the limited heavenly attainments of the devas.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Viṣṇu is presented as the Supreme Reality whose touch determines destiny; the verse underscores His sovereignty over karma’s outcomes and the superiority of His realm and gifts over ordinary celestial enjoyment.