Shloka 12

Viśvarūpa’s Death, Vṛtrāsura’s Manifestation, and the Devas’ Surrender to Nārāyaṇa

Devanagari script

अथान्वाहार्यपचनादुत्थितो घोरदर्शन: । कृतान्त इव लोकानां युगान्तसमये यथा ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

athānvāhārya-pacanād utthito ghora-darśanaḥ kṛtānta iva lokānāṁ yugānta-samaye yathā

Translation

ต่อจากนั้น จากด้านทิศใต้ของไฟบูชาที่เรียกว่า อันวาหารยะ ได้ปรากฏบุคคลผู้มีรูปลักษณ์น่าสะพรึงกลัว ราวกับกฤตานตะผู้ทำลายโลกทั้งปวงในกาลสิ้นยุค

Synonyms

• atha: then/now
• atha: Sambandha/Discourse marker (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: atha (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable particle (अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक)

• anvāhārya-pacanāt: from the anvāhārya-pacana (sacrificial fire/rite)
• anvāhārya-pacanāt: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anvāhārya (प्रातिपदिक) + pacana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Ablative (5th/पञ्चमी), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष-समास (‘from the anvāhārya-pacana (fire/rite)’)

• utthitaḥ: arisen/emerged
• utthitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ut-√sthā (धातु)
• Form: Past participle (क्त/कृदन्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• ghora-darśanaḥ: terrible-looking
• ghora-darśanaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ghora (प्रातिपदिक) + darśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारय-समास (‘having a terrible appearance’)

• kṛtāntaḥ: Death (Yama)
• kṛtāntaḥ: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kṛtānta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)

• iva: like/as if
• iva: Upamā (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable particle of comparison (उपमावाचक-अव्यय)

• lokānām: of the worlds/of people
• lokānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन)

• yugānta-samaye: at the time of the end of the yuga
• yugānta-samaye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yugānta (प्रातिपदिक) + samaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष-समास (‘at the time of the end of an age’)

• yathā: just as
• yathā: Upamā (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable correlating/comparative adverb (यथाशब्दः; उपमान-प्रकारवाचक)

Characters & Entities

• Kṛtānta (Yama)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the appearance of Vṛtrāsura?

In this verse, Śukadeva describes a dreadful being rising from the sacrificial fire, resembling Death at the end of a yuga—setting the scene for Vṛtrāsura’s fearsome manifestation.

Why is the figure compared to Kṛtānta (Death) at the end of the yuga?

The comparison emphasizes overwhelming terror and unstoppable power—like cosmic dissolution—indicating that the emerging form is not ordinary but carries world-shaking potency.

Practical application of this imagery in modern life?

It reminds a devotee that time and death are irresistible forces; therefore one should cultivate bhakti and spiritual urgency rather than false security in temporary circumstances.