Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 15

Brahmā’s Boons, Hiraṇyakaśipu’s Cosmic Tyranny, and Prahlāda’s Transcendental Qualities

Devanagari script

स एव वर्णाश्रमिभि: क्रतुभिर्भूरिदक्षिणै: । इज्यमानो हविर्भागानग्रहीत् स्वेन तेजसा ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

sa eva varṇāśramibhiḥ kratubhir bhūri-dakṣiṇaiḥ ijyamāno havir-bhāgān agrahīt svena tejasā

Translation

ବର୍ଣ୍ଣାଶ୍ରମ ନୀତିକୁ କଠୋର ଭାବେ ପାଳନ କରୁଥିବା ଲୋକମାନେ ଯେତେବେଳେ ବହୁ ଦକ୍ଷିଣା ସହିତ ଯଜ୍ଞ କରି ତାଙ୍କୁ ପୂଜା କରୁଥିଲେ, ସେତେବେଳେ ହିରଣ୍ୟକଶିପୁ ଦେବତାମାନଙ୍କୁ ଦେବାକୁ ଥିବା ହବିର୍ଭାଗ ନ ଦେଇ, ନିଜ ତେଜର ବଳରେ ସେଗୁଡ଼ିକୁ ନିଜେ ଗ୍ରହଣ କରୁଥିଲା।

Synonyms

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (Pronoun), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• एव: indeed
• एव: निपात (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Particle/emphasis)

• वर्ण-आश्रमिभिः: by those of the varṇas and āśramas
• वर्ण-आश्रमिभिः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + आश्रमिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘वर्णाश्रमेषु स्थिताः’), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• क्रतुभिः: with sacrifices
• क्रतुभिः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: क्रतु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• भूरि-दक्षिणैः: with abundant fees (gifts)
• भूरि-दक्षिणैः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भूरि (प्रातिपदिक) + दक्षिणा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘भूरयः दक्षिणाः येषाम्’), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural); क्रतुभिः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• इज्यमानः: being worshipped
• इज्यमानः: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इज्यमान (कृदन्त; √यज् धातु, शानच्/मान)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि कृदन्त (Present passive participle), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); सः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• हविः-भागान्: shares of oblations
• हविः-भागान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हविस् (प्रातिपदिक) + भाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘हविषः भागाः’), पुल्लिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• अग्रहीत्: he seized / took away
• अग्रहीत्: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लुङ्-लकार (Aorist), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• स्वेन: by his own
• स्वेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्व (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम-विशेषण (Pronominal adjective), नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुल्लिङ्ग (agreeing with तेजसा), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

• तेजसा: splendor / power
• तेजसा: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन (Singular)

Characters & Entities

• Hiraṇyakaśipu
• Demigods (Devas)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about demons misusing Vedic sacrifices?

This verse shows that an asura like Hiraṇyakaśipu can be worshiped through elaborate rituals, yet he uses that social-religious system to seize the demigods’ rightful shares, turning yajña into a tool of domination rather than devotion.

Why were people of all varṇas and āśramas worshiping Hiraṇyakaśipu?

In the narrative, Hiraṇyakaśipu’s overwhelming political and mystical power created fear and coercion; many participated in rituals for him as a matter of survival, even though such worship opposed the intended divine order of yajña.

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

External religiosity can be captured by ego, fear, or authoritarian power; the verse urges aligning spiritual practice with genuine devotion and righteousness, not merely with spectacle, wealth, or social pressure.