Shloka 6

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

Devanagari script

सपत्नैर्घातित: क्षुद्रैर्भ्राता मे दयित: सुहृत् । पार्ष्णिग्राहेण हरिणा समेनाप्युपधावनै: ॥ ६ ॥

Transliteration

sapatnair ghātitaḥ kṣudrair bhrātā me dayitaḥ suhṛt pārṣṇi-grāheṇa hariṇā samenāpy upadhāvanaiḥ

Translation

ನನ್ನ ಕ್ಷುಲ್ಲಕ ಶತ್ರುಗಳಾದ ದೇವತೆಗಳು ಒಗ್ಗೂಡಿ ನನ್ನ ಅತ್ಯಂತ ಪ್ರಿಯ ಮತ್ತು ವಿಧೇಯ ಸಹೋದರ ಹಿರಣ್ಯಾಕ್ಷನನ್ನು ಕೊಂದಿದ್ದಾರೆ. ಪರಮಾತ್ಮನಾದ ವಿಷ್ಣುವು ನಮ್ಮಿಬ್ಬರ (ದೇವತೆಗಳು ಮತ್ತು ರಾಕ್ಷಸರು) ಕಡೆಗೆ ಯಾವಾಗಲೂ ಸಮಾನವಾಗಿದ್ದರೂ, ಈ ಬಾರಿ ದೇವತೆಗಳಿಂದ ಭಕ್ತಿಯಿಂದ ಪೂಜಿಸಲ್ಪಟ್ಟಿದ್ದರಿಂದ, ಅವರು ದೇವತೆಗಳ ಪಕ್ಷವನ್ನು ವಹಿಸಿ ಹಿರಣ್ಯಾಕ್ಷನನ್ನು ಕೊಲ್ಲಲು ಸಹಾಯ ಮಾಡಿದರು.

Synonyms

• सपत्नैः: by rivals/enemies
• सपत्नैः: Karta (कर्ता/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सपत्न (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• घातितः: killed
• घातितः: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु) + णिच् (causative) → घातित (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘killed/caused to be killed’

• क्षुद्रैः: by petty/wretched (ones)
• क्षुद्रैः: Karta (कर्ता/Agent)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षुद्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘सपत्नैः’)

• भ्राता: brother
• भ्राता: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मे: my
• मे: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति (सम्बन्ध/Genitive), एकवचन

• दयितः: beloved
• दयितः: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दयित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (to ‘भ्राता’)

• सुहृत्: friend
• सुहृत्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुहृद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘सुहृत्’ = प्रथमा एकवचन (irregular stem सुहृद्)

• पार्ष्णिग्राहेण: by the heel-grasper
• पार्ष्णिग्राहेण: Karta (कर्ता/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्ष्णि (प्रातिपदिक) + ग्राह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (‘पार्ष्णेः ग्राहः’ = heel-grasper)

• हरिणा: by Hari (Vishnu)
• हरिणा: Karta (कर्ता/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• समेन: by the equal (in strength)
• समेन: Karta (कर्ता/Agent)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (to ‘हरिणा’)

• अपि: even
• अपि: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), समुच्चय/अपि = ‘even/also’

• उपधावनैः: by repeated pursuits/assaults
• उपधावनैः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उपधावन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; साधन/Instrumental (‘by pursuits/attacks/assaults’)

Purport

As stated in Bhagavad-gītā (9.29) , samo ’haṁ sarva-bhūteṣu: the Lord is equal to all living entities. Since the demigods and demons are both living entities, how is it possible that the Lord was partial to one class of living beings and opposed to another? Actually it is not possible for the Lord to be partial. Nonetheless, since the demigods, the devotees, always strictly follow the Supreme Lord’s orders, because of sincerity they are victorious over the demons, who know that the Supreme Lord is Viṣṇu but do not follow His instructions. Because of constantly remembering the Supreme Personality of Godhead, Viṣṇu, the demons generally attain sāyujya-mukti after death. The demon Hiraṇyakaśipu accused the Lord of being partial because the demigods worshiped Him, but in fact the Lord, like the government, is not partial at all. The government is not partial to any citizen, but if a citizen is law-abiding he receives abundant opportunities from the state laws to live peacefully and fulfill his real interests.

Characters & Entities

• Hiraṇyakaśipu
• Hiraṇyākṣa
• Hari (Viṣṇu)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the demoniac view of Hari (Vishnu)?

This verse shows Hiraṇyakaśipu blaming “Hari” for his brother’s death, revealing the asuric tendency to see the Lord as an enemy and to interpret divine victory as unfair or deceitful.

Why did Hiranyakashipu say this about his brother Hiranyaksha?

He is lamenting Hiraṇyākṣa’s death and inflaming hostility toward Viṣṇu, using the event to justify revenge and intensify his anti-devotional agenda.

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

Guard against envy and grievance-thinking: when loss is interpreted through resentment, it hardens into hatred and destructive decisions rather than humility and spiritual growth.