Shloka 14

Devanagari script

विष्णुनाश्वशिर: प्राप्प तथादित्यां निवत्स्यता | गर्भे वधार्थ दैत्यानामज्ञातेनोषितं चिरम्‌

Transliteration

vaiśampāyana uvāca |

viṣṇunāśvaśiraḥ prāptaṃ tathādityāṃ nivatsyata |

garbhe vadhārthaṃ daityānām ajñātenoṣitaṃ ciram ||

Translation

Вайшампаяна сказал: «Благословенный Владыка Вишну, приняв облик с конской головой (Хаягрива), вошёл в Адити и долгое время тайно пребывал в её чреве, дабы погубить дайтьев. Этот эпизод показывает: охрана космического порядка (дхармы) порой требует скрытного замысла и терпеливой подготовки — даже от божества.»

Word by Word

• विष्णुना: by Vishnu
• विष्णुना: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• अश्वशिरः: horse-head (Hayagriva form)
• अश्वशिरः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्वशिरस्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

• प्राप्य: having attained/assumed
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + आप्
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund), Parasmaipada (usage-neutral here)

• तथा: thus/likewise
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा

• अदित्याम्: in Aditi
• अदित्याम्: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अदिति
• Form: Feminine, Locative, Singular

• निवत्स्यते: will dwell/abide
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + वस्
• Form: Simple Future (लृट्), 3rd, Singular, Atmanepada

• गर्भे: in the womb
• गर्भे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गर्भ
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• वधार्थम्: for the purpose of killing
• वधार्थम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वधार्थ
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• दैत्यानाम्: of the Daityas (demons)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• अज्ञातेन: by (being) unknown; secretly
• अज्ञातेन: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अज्ञात
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• उषितम्: dwelt/stayed
• Type: Verb
• Root: वस् (उष् as past participle stem usage)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle), Neuter, Nominative/Accusative, Singular

• चिरम्: for a long time
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: चिरम्

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• विष्णुः: Vishnu
• विष्णुः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• अपि: also/indeed
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि

• दैत्यानाम्: of the Daityas
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• वधम्: killing/slaying
• वधम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: वध
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• कर्तुम्: to do; to accomplish
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: तुमुन् (infinitive)

• हयग्रीवस्वरूपम्: the form of Hayagriva
• हयग्रीवस्वरूपम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: हयग्रीव-स्वरूप
• Form: Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• धारण: assuming/holding (the act of)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धृ
• Form: ल्युट् (action noun), Neuter, Accusative, Singular

• कृत्वा: having done
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ
• Form: क्त्वा (absolutive/gerund)

• अज्ञातभावेन: in an unknown/hidden state
• अज्ञातभावेन: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: अज्ञात-भाव
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• अदितेः: of Aditi
• Type: Noun
• Root: अदिति
• Form: Feminine, Genitive, Singular

• गर्भे: in the womb
• गर्भे: Adhikarana
• Type: Noun
• Root: गर्भ
• Form: Masculine, Locative, Singular

• दीर्घकालम्: a long time
• Type: Noun
• Root: दीर्घ-काल
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• रहे: remained (Hindi gloss, not Sanskrit)
• Type: Verb
• Root: रह्
• Form: Perfect/Preterite (non-classical Hindi form; not Sanskrit), 3rd, Singular

• हैं: are (Hindi auxiliary, not Sanskrit)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस्
• Form: Present (Hindi auxiliary, not Sanskrit), 3rd, Plural

Speaker

वैशम्पायन उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vaiśampāyana
• Viṣṇu
• Hayagrīva (horse-headed form)
• Aditi
• Daityas

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights that upholding dharma and restoring balance may involve patience, concealment, and careful timing; even divine action can proceed through strategic preparation rather than immediate confrontation.

What is happening in the narrative?

Vaiśampāyana narrates that Viṣṇu assumed a horse-headed form (Hayagrīva) and secretly remained for a long time within Aditi’s womb, intending to later destroy the Daityas.