Shloka 11
Hiraṇyakaśipu’s Wrath, the Assault on Vedic Culture, and the Boy-Yamarāja’s Teaching on the Soul
विष्णुर्द्विजक्रियामूलो यज्ञो धर्ममय: पुमान् । देवर्षिपितृभूतानां धर्मस्य च परायणम् ॥ ११ ॥
viṣṇur dvija-kriyā-mūlo yajño dharmamayaḥ pumān devarṣi-pitṛ-bhūtānāṁ dharmasya ca parāyaṇam
ભગવાન વિષ્ણુ બ્રાહ્મણોના કર્મો અને યજ્ઞોના મૂળ છે; તેઓ સાક્ષાત ધર્મસ્વરૂપ છે. તેઓ દેવતાઓ, ઋષિઓ, પિતૃઓ અને સમસ્ત જીવોના પરમ આશ્રય છે.
Since Viṣṇu is the central point of brahminical culture, Hiraṇyakaśipu’s plan was to kill Viṣṇu, for if Viṣṇu were killed, naturally the brahminical culture would also be lost. With brahminical culture lost, yajña would no longer be performed, and for want of yajña the regular distribution of rainfall would cease ( yajñād bhavati parjanyaḥ ). Thus there would be disturbances all over the world, and naturally the demigods would be defeated. From this verse we get a clear indication of how human society is disturbed when the Vedic Āryan civilization is killed and the Vedic ritualistic ceremonies performed by the brāhmaṇas are stopped. Kalau śūdra-sambhavaḥ: because the population of the modern world consists mostly of śūdras, the brahminical culture is now lost and is extremely difficult to reestablish in a proper way. Therefore Lord Caitanya has recommended the chanting of the holy name of the Lord, which will revive brahminical culture very easily.
FAQs
This verse states that yajña is ultimately Lord Viṣṇu Himself—sacrifice and Vedic duty find their root and fulfillment in worship of Viṣṇu.
In the context of instructing about true religious principles, Nārada explains that dharma is not independent; it rests upon and culminates in the Supreme Person, Viṣṇu.
Perform duties—family, work, worship—as offerings to God, keeping Viṣṇu (the Lord) as the center, so that actions become dharmic and spiritually purposeful.