Shloka 64

Hymn of Victory: Varāha, the Slaying of Hiraṇyākṣa, and the Praise of Viṣṇu

Devanagari script

सिंहव्याघ्रलुलायांश्च तद्वद्द्विप सरीसृपान् । जघान समरे विष्णुं हिरण्याक्षः प्रतापवान्

Transliteration

siṃhavyāghralulāyāṃśca tadvaddvipa sarīsṛpān | jaghāna samare viṣṇuṃ hiraṇyākṣaḥ pratāpavān

Translation

Matando leones, tigres, chacales, y asimismo elefantes y reptiles, el poderoso Hiraṇyākṣa derribó a Viṣṇu en la batalla.

Word by Word

• siṃha: lion
• siṃha: Karma (Object-group/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: siṃha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (contextual member), एकवचन; समासाङ्ग (compound member)

• vyāghra: tiger
• vyāghra: Karma (Object-group/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vyāghra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (contextual member), एकवचन; समासाङ्ग

• lulāyān: wild beasts, predators
• lulāyān: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: lulāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), बहुवचन; ‘lulāya’ = wild beast/predator

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय

• tadvat: likewise
• tadvat: Adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम) + vat (तद्धित/उपमा)
• Form: अव्यय; ‘तद्वत्’ = ‘likewise/in the same way’ (adverb)

• dvipa: elephants
• dvipa: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvipa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), बहुवचन (understood: dvipān); छन्दसि/पाठभेदे रूपसंक्षेपः

• sarīsṛpān: reptiles, creeping creatures
• sarīsṛpān: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarīsṛpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), बहुवचन

• jaghāna: struck, slew
• jaghāna: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: han (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• samare: in battle
• samare: Adhikaraṇa (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th case), एकवचन

• viṣṇum: Vishnu
• viṣṇum: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd case), एकवचन

• hiraṇyākṣaḥ: Hiraṇyākṣa (golden-eyed one)
• hiraṇyākṣaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hiraṇya (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (hiraṇyam akṣau yasya)

• pratāpavān: mighty, valorous
• pratāpavān: Viśeṣaṇa (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pratāpa (प्रातिपदिक) + vat (तद्धित)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st case), एकवचन; -वत् (possessive)

Speaker

Narrator (within the Pulastya–Bhīṣma dialogue framework typical of the Padma Purāṇa)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: सिंहव्याघ्रलुलायांश्च = सिंह व्याघ्र लुलायान् च (समाहार-गणना; पाठे समासाभासः); तद्वद्द्विप = तद्वत् द्विप(ान्); जघान ... विष्णुं = ‘विष्णुम्’ कर्म; हिरण्याक्षः कर्ता.

Characters & Entities

• Viṣṇu
• Hiraṇyākṣa

FAQs

Who is Hiraṇyākṣa in the Padma Purāṇa context?

Hiraṇyākṣa is a powerful daitya (asura) figure associated with cosmic conflict against divine order; this verse highlights his ferocity and battlefield dominance.

Does the verse literally mean that Viṣṇu was killed?

In Purāṇic battle narration, verbs like “jaghāna” can describe striking down or overpowering in combat; the broader tradition maintains Viṣṇu’s transcendence, so the line is typically read as a momentary defeat/overpowering within the narrative flow.

What ethical or theological theme is emphasized here?

The verse underscores the intensity of adharma-driven power and sets up the larger Purāṇic theme that divine order is ultimately restored, even when formidable forces temporarily appear victorious.