Garuda Purana — Moksha Sadhana Prakarana, Shloka 5

Veṅkaṭeśa-Māhātmya: Varāha Prelude, Descent of Śeṣācala, Svāmipuṣkariṇī and the Network of Tīrthas

with Dāna-Lakṣaṇas

Devanagari script

हरिण्याक्षः स्वयं दैत्यो हरिभक्तविदूषकः / एतादृशो हिरण्याक्षस्तपस्तप्तुं समुद्यतः

Transliteration

hariṇyākṣaḥ svayaṃ daityo haribhaktavidūṣakaḥ / etādṛśo hiraṇyākṣastapastaptuṃ samudyataḥ

Translation

ہِرَنیہاکش خود دَیتیہ تھا اور ہری کے بھکتوں کا تمسخر اڑانے والا تھا۔ ایسا ہِرَنیہاکش سخت تپسیا کرنے کے لیے آمادہ ہوا۔

Word by Word

• हिरण्याक्षः: Hiraṇyākṣa
• हिरण्याक्षः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिरण्याक्ष (प्रातिपदिक; हिरण्य + अक्ष)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (हिरण्यस्य अक्षः)

• स्वयम्: himself
• स्वयम्: Karta (कर्ता-विशेषण/Subject-modifier)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्वयम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; आत्मार्थे/स्वतः (indeclinable adverb: ‘by himself’)

• दैत्यः: a Daitya (demon)
• दैत्यः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• हरि-भक्त-विदूषकः: mocking/deriding the devotees of Hari
• हरि-भक्त-विदूषकः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject-apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक) + भक्त (प्रातिपदिक) + विदूषक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (हरिभक्तानां विदूषकः)

• एतादृशः: such (of this kind)
• एतादृशः: Karta (कर्ता-विशेषण/Subject-modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एतादृश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying the subject)

• हिरण्याक्षः: Hiraṇyākṣa
• हिरण्याक्षः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिरण्याक्ष (प्रातिपदिक; हिरण्य + अक्ष)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः

• तपः: austerity, penance
• तपः: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मपदम्

• तप्तुम्: to perform (austerity)
• तप्तुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन/Infinitive of purpose)
• Type: Verb
• Root: तप् (धातु)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), ‘to perform/undergo’

• समुद्यतः: resolved, prepared
• समुद्यतः: Karta (कर्ता-विशेषण/Subject-modifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सम्-उद्-यत् (धातु)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle used adjectivally), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘ready/intent’

Speaker

Suta (narrator) describing Hiraṇyākṣa within the Garuda Purana narrative

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tapas without right intention and respect for devotees becomes spiritually distorted; derision (nindā) of bhaktas is a grave fault.

Vedantic Theme: Guṇa-driven austerity (tāmasika/ rājasika tapas) versus sāttvika tapas (Gītā 17.14–17.19 as a conceptual parallel); inner motive determines fruit.

Application: Pair discipline with humility and compassion; avoid contempt for sincere practitioners; examine motives behind spiritual practices.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 3.26.3–4 (identity and conflict setup)

Characters & Entities

• Hiraṇyākṣa
• Daityas
• Hari (Vishnu)
• Hari-bhaktas (devotees of Vishnu)

FAQs

What is the importance of mocking Hari-bhaktas in the Garuda Purana?

This verse flags deriding Viṣṇu’s devotees as a key sign of adharma; it frames Hiraṇyākṣa’s character as antagonistic to bhakti even before describing his austerities.

How does this verse explain the role of tapas (austerity) in spiritual progress?

It shows that tapas can be pursued even by a Daitya; the text highlights intent and disposition—here, austerity arises from a hostile, anti-bhakti nature rather than humble devotion.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Avoid ridiculing sincere practitioners; cultivate respect for devotion, and pair discipline (tapas) with ethical conduct and humility so spiritual effort does not become ego-driven.