Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 3

Hiraṇyakaśipu’s Wrath, the Assault on Vedic Culture, and the Boy-Yamarāja’s Teaching on the Soul

Devanagari script

करालदंष्ट्रोग्रद‍ृष्टय‍ा दुष्प्रेक्ष्यभ्रुकुटीमुख: । शूलमुद्यम्य सदसि दानवानिदमब्रवीत् ॥ ३ ॥

Transliteration

karāla-daṁṣṭrogra-dṛṣṭyā duṣprekṣya-bhrukuṭī-mukhaḥ śūlam udyamya sadasi dānavān idam abravīt

Translation

Với nanh răng ghê rợn, ánh nhìn dữ dội và đôi mày cau lại khiến người ta khó nhìn, hắn giơ cây śūla (đinh ba) lên và nói với bọn quỷ thần đang tụ họp trong hội đường như sau.

Synonyms

• karāla-daṁṣṭra-ugra-dṛṣṭyā: with a fierce look (and) terrible fangs
• karāla-daṁṣṭra-ugra-dṛṣṭyā: Karana (करण/Instrumental, manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karāla + daṁṣṭra + ugra + dṛṣṭi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुष (करालदंष्ट्रस्य उग्रदृष्टिः / करालदंष्ट्र-उग्र-दृष्टिः)

• duṣprekṣya-bhrukuṭī-mukhaḥ: whose face, with knitted brows, was hard to look at
• duṣprekṣya-bhrukuṭī-mukhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: duṣprekṣya (कृदन्त, √īkṣ) + bhrukuṭī + mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—बहुव्रीहि (‘यस्य मुखं भ्रुकुट्या दुṣprekṣyam्’)

• śūlam: a spear/trident
• śūlam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• udyamya: having lifted/raised
• udyamya: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल/Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ud-yam (धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त—ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव

• sadasi: in the assembly
• sadasi: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sadas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• dānavān: O Dānavas (demons)
• dānavān: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dānava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, संबोधन (Vocative), बहुवचन

• idam: this (speech)
• idam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• abravīt: spoke
• abravīt: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: brū (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Hiraṇyakaśipu
• Dānavas

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam describe about Hiranyakashipu’s mood in Canto 7 Chapter 2?

This verse portrays him as terrifying and wrathful—fierce-eyed, frowning, and raising a trident—setting the tone for his violent resolve against devotion.

Why was Hiranyakashipu speaking to the Danavas in the royal assembly?

In this chapter’s narrative, he convenes and addresses the demons to outline his policies and plans—especially his campaign against Vishnu and those inclined to bhakti, which soon centers on Prahlāda.

What practical lesson can be taken from this shloka today?

It highlights how anger and power can distort judgment; a devotee learns to recognize such destructive tendencies and remain steady in dharma and devotion despite intimidation.