Shloka 25

The Slaying of Hiraṇyākṣa and the Triumph of Varāha

Devanagari script

तं मुष्टिभिर्विनिघ्नन्तं वज्रसारैरधोक्षज: । करेण कर्णमूलेऽहन् यथा त्वाष्ट्रं मरुत्पति: ॥ २५ ॥

Transliteration

taṁ muṣṭibhir vinighnantaṁ vajra-sārair adhokṣajaḥ kareṇa karṇa-mūle ’han yathā tvāṣṭraṁ marut-patiḥ

Translation

ਰਾਕਸ਼ਸ ਨੇ ਹੁਣ ਆਪਣੀਆਂ ਸਖ਼ਤ ਮੁੱਠੀਆਂ ਨਾਲ ਪ੍ਰਭੂ ਨੂੰ ਮਾਰਨਾ ਸ਼ੁਰੂ ਕਰ ਦਿੱਤਾ, ਪਰ ਭਗਵਾਨ ਅਧੋਕਸ਼ਜ ਨੇ ਉਸ ਦੇ ਕੰਨ ਦੀ ਜੜ੍ਹ 'ਤੇ ਥੱਪੜ ਮਾਰਿਆ, ਜਿਵੇਂ ਇੰਦਰ ਨੇ ਰਾਕਸ਼ਸ ਵ੍ਰਿਤਰ ਨੂੰ ਮਾਰਿਆ ਸੀ।

Synonyms

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन (pronoun)

• मुष्टिभिः: with fists
• मुष्टिभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन

• विनिघ्नन्तम्: striking, beating
• विनिघ्नन्तम्: Karma (कर्म) (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-√हन् (धातु) → विनिघ्नत् (कृदन्त, शतृ)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्यय वर्तमानकृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन; qualifies तम्

• वज्र-सारैः: with thunderbolt-hard (ones)
• वज्र-सारैः: Karaṇa (करण) (qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वज्र (प्रातिपदिक) + सार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (वज्रवत् सारः / वज्रस्य सारः); पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया बहुवचन; qualifies मुष्टिभिः (fists hard as thunderbolt)

• अधोक्षजः: Adhokṣaja (the Lord)
• अधोक्षजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधोक्षज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन

• करेण: with (his) hand
• करेण: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया एकवचन

• कर्ण-मूले: at the root of the ear
• कर्ण-मूले: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + मूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कर्णस्य मूलम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी एकवचन

• अहन्: struck, smote
• अहन्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हन् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष एकवचन

• यथा: as, like
• यथा: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमानवाचक-अव्यय (comparative particle: as/like)

• त्वाष्ट्रम्: Tvaṣṭra’s (son) / Vṛtra
• त्वाष्ट्रम्: Karma (कर्म) (in comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वाष्ट्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया एकवचन

• मरुत्-पतिः: lord of the Maruts (Indra)
• मरुत्-पतिः: Karta (कर्ता) (in comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मरुत् (प्रातिपदिक) + पति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मरुतां पतिः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा एकवचन

Purport

The Lord is explained here to be adhokṣaja, beyond the reach of all material calculation. Akṣaja means “the measurement of our senses,” and adhokṣaja means “that which is beyond the measurement of our senses.”

Characters & Entities

• Adhokṣaja (Lord Viṣṇu/Varāha)
• Hiraṇyākṣa
• Indra (Marutpati)
• Vṛtrāsura (Tvāṣṭra)
• Tvaṣṭā
• Maruts

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Lord Varaha defeating Hiranyaksha?

This verse describes the Lord (Adhokṣaja) effortlessly countering Hiraṇyākṣa’s thunderbolt-like blows by striking him at the root of the ear, showing the Lord’s supreme, decisive power in restoring dharma.

Why does Bhagavatam compare this strike to Indra killing Vritrasura?

Śukadeva uses a well-known Vedic battle (Indra vs. Vṛtra) as an analogy to emphasize the certainty and force of the Lord’s blow—divine victory over a formidable enemy.

Practical application: what can devotees learn from Adhokshaja’s response in this verse?

Even when adversity feels powerful and relentless, the Lord’s protection is superior to material strength; a devotee cultivates faith that dharma will ultimately prevail under divine guidance.