Shloka 13

हिरण्यपुरवर्णनम्

Description of Hiraṇyapura and the Nivātakavacas

Devanagari script

अत्र गोव्रतिनो विप्रा: स्वाध्यायाम्नायकर्शिता: । त्यक्तप्राणा जितस्वर्गा निवसन्ति महर्षय:,वेदपाठसे दुर्बल हुए तथा प्राणोंकी परवा न करके तपस्याद्वारा स्वर्गलोकपर विजय पानेवाले गोव्रतधारी ब्राह्मण महर्षिगण यहाँ निवास करते हैं

Transliteration

atra govratino viprāḥ svādhyāyāmnāyakaṛśitāḥ | tyaktaprāṇā jitasvargā nivasanti maharṣayaḥ ||

Translation

Sinabi ni Nārada: “Dito nananahan ang mga dakilang rishi—mga pantas na Brahmin na tumutupad sa ‘govrata’ (panatang-baka). Nanghihina sila sa walang humpay na pagbigkas at masusing pag-aaral sa tradisyong banal; ni ang sariling buhay ay hindi nila pinapahalagahan. Sa pamamagitan ng tapas, napagtagumpayan nila ang pagkamit ng svarga, kaya sila’y nananatili sa pook na ito.”

Word by Word

अत्रhere

गोव्रतिनःobserving the cow-vow (go-vrata)

विप्राःbrahmins

स्वाध्यायाम्नायकर्शिताःemaciated/leaned by self-study and traditional recitation

त्यक्तप्राणाःhaving abandoned concern for life (as if life given up)

जितस्वर्गाःhaving conquered/won heaven

निवसन्तिdwell, reside

महर्षयःgreat sages

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

Nārada

viprāḥ (Brahmin sages)

maharṣayaḥ (great seers)

svarga (heaven)

Character Dynamics

Dharma Sankata (Moral Dilemma)

Verse Rasa (Emotional Essence)

Philosophical Teaching

Political Layer

Geographic Context

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse praises disciplined Vedic study and austerity: sages who practice restraint (go-vrata) and persevere in svādhyāya become spiritually accomplished, valuing dharma and tapas over bodily comfort and even over fear of death, thereby ‘winning’ heavenly attainment.

What is happening in the narrative?

Nārada is describing a sacred locale and its residents: Brahmin seers devoted to a particular vow and rigorous traditional learning live there, characterized by ascetic endurance and spiritual achievement.