Shloka 14

Hiraṇyakaśipu’s Wrath, the Assault on Vedic Culture, and the Boy-Yamarāja’s Teaching on the Soul

Devanagari script

पुरग्रामव्रजोद्यानक्षेत्रारामाश्रमाकरान् । खेटखर्वटघोषांश्च ददहु: पत्तनानि च ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

pura-grāma-vrajodyāna- kṣetrārāmāśramākarān kheṭa-kharvaṭa-ghoṣāṁś ca dadahuḥ pattanāni ca

Translation

ರಾಕ್ಷಸರು ನಗರಗಳು, ಹಳ್ಳಿಗಳು, ಗೋಶಾಲೆಗಳು, ತೋಟಗಳು, ಹೊಲಗಳು, ಆಶ್ರಮಗಳು, ಗಣಿಗಳು ಮತ್ತು ಗೊಲ್ಲರ ಹಟ್ಟಿಗಳಿಗೆ ಬೆಂಕಿ ಹಚ್ಚಿದರು.

Synonyms

• पुर-ग्राम-व्रज-उद्यान-क्षेत्र-आराम-आश्रम-आकरान्: cities, villages, cattle-settlements, gardens, fields, parks, hermitages, and mines
• पुर-ग्राम-व्रज-उद्यान-क्षेत्र-आराम-आश्रम-आकरान्: Karma (कर्म/Object of dadahuḥ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुर (प्रातिपदिक) + ग्राम (प्रातिपदिक) + व्रज (प्रातिपदिक) + उद्यान (प्रातिपदिक) + क्षेत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + आराम (प्रातिपदिक) + आश्रम (प्रातिपदिक) + आकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; समाहार/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व-समासः (सूची-समासः)

• खेट-खर्वट-घोषान्: market-towns, hamlets, and cowherd-settlements
• खेट-खर्वट-घोषान्: Karma (कर्म/Object of dadahuḥ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खेट (प्रातिपदिक) + खर्वट (प्रातिपदिक) + घोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्वः

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

• ददहुः: they burned
• ददहुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• पत्तनानि: towns/cities
• पत्तनानि: Karma (कर्म/Object of dadahuḥ)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पत्तन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• च: also/and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

Purport

The word udyāna refers to places where trees are especially grown to produce fruits and flowers, which are most important for human civilization. Kṛṣṇa says in Bhagavad-gītā (9.26) :

Characters & Entities

• Hiraṇyakaśipu
• Prahlāda

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the demoniac mindset that destroys society?

This verse depicts how asuric rule expresses itself through indiscriminate destruction—burning towns, farms, hermitages, and places of livelihood—showing hatred toward dharma and the welfare of others.

Why were cities, villages, and even hermitages burned in Canto 7 Chapter 2?

In the narrative, Hiraṇyakaśipu’s followers unleash terror while opposing Prahlāda’s devotion and the influence of dharma, so the violence spreads to every type of settlement and sacred place.

Practical application: what is the modern lesson from this shloka?

It warns that unchecked anger, envy, and godlessness can devastate communities and sacred culture; the remedy is cultivating sattva, compassion, and devotion rather than domination.