Shloka 22

The Slaying of Hiraṇyākṣa and the Triumph of Varāha

Devanagari script

प्रादुष्कृतानां मायानामासुरीणां विनाशयत् । सुदर्शनास्त्रं भगवान् प्रायुङ्क्त दयितं त्रिपात् ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

prāduṣkṛtānāṁ māyānām āsurīṇāṁ vināśayat sudarśanāstraṁ bhagavān prāyuṅkta dayitaṁ tri-pāt

Translation

समस्त यज्ञों के भोक्ता भगवान ने अपना प्रिय सुदर्शन चक्र चलाया, जिसने असुर द्वारा रची गई मायावी शक्तियों को तितर-बितर कर दिया।

Synonyms

• प्रादुष्कृतानाम्: of the manifested/produced
• प्रादुष्कृतानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रादुस्-√कृ (धातु) → प्रादुष्कृत (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी बहुवचन; qualifies मायानाम्

• मायानाम्: of the illusions
• मायानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी बहुवचन

• आसुरीणाम्: of the demonic
• आसुरीणाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आसुरी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, षष्ठी बहुवचन; qualifies मायानाम्

• विनाशयत्: destroyed
• विनाशयत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वि-√नश् (धातु) + णिच् → विनाशय (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष एकवचन

• सुदर्शन-अस्त्रम्: the Sudarśana weapon/discus
• सुदर्शन-अस्त्रम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुदर्शन (प्रातिपदिक) + अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (सुदर्शनस्य अस्त्रम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन

• भगवान्: the Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन

• प्रायुङ्क्त: employed, used
• प्रायुङ्क्त: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√युज् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष एकवचन; irregular augment/sandhi form of प्रायोजयत्/प्रायुङ्क्त (from √युज् ‘to employ’)

• दयितम्: beloved, dear
• दयितम्: Karma (कर्म) (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दयित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; qualifies अस्त्रम्

• त्रिपात्: three-stepped/threefold
• त्रिपात्: Karma (कर्म) (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + पात् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; epithet qualifying अस्त्रम् (three-stepped/threefold-moving)

Purport

Even famous yogīs and demons can sometimes enact very magical feats by their mystic power, but in the presence of the Sudarśana cakra, when it is let loose by the Lord, all such magical jugglery is dispersed. The instance of the quarrel between Durvāsā Muni and Mahārāja Ambarīṣa is a practical example in this matter. Durvāsā Muni wanted to display many magical wonders, but when the Sudarśana cakra appeared, Durvāsā himself was afraid and fled to various planets for his personal protection. The Lord is described here as tri-pāt, which means that He is the enjoyer of three kinds of sacrifices. In Bhagavad-gītā the Lord confirms that He is the beneficiary and enjoyer of all sacrifices, penances and austerities. The Lord is the enjoyer of three kinds of yajña. As further described in Bhagavad-gītā, there are sacrifices of goods, sacrifices of meditation and sacrifices of philosophical speculation. Those on the paths of jñāna, yoga and karma all have to come in the end to the Supreme Lord because vāsudevaḥ sarvam iti: the Supreme Lord is the ultimate enjoyer of everything. That is the perfection of all sacrifice.

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Varāha (the Supreme Lord)
• Hiraṇyākṣa
• Sudarśana

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about demoniac illusion (āsurī māyā)?

This verse shows that the Lord easily destroys demoniac magical displays; asuric illusion cannot stand before Bhagavān’s divine power.

Why did the Lord use the Sudarśana weapon in Canto 3 Chapter 19?

In the battle with Hiraṇyākṣa, the Lord employed Sudarśana to counter and annihilate the demon’s manifested illusions and reestablish divine order.

Practical application: how to overcome illusion in modern life according to Bhagavatam?

Take shelter of the Lord and His guidance (bhakti); what is “asuric” in us—pride, deceit, and भ्रम—diminishes when we align life with devotion and truth.