Shloka 7

Hari’s Avatāras and the Cosmic Power of Pativratā-Dharma

Devanagari script

नरसिंहो ऽवर्तोर्णो ऽथ हिरण्यकशिपुंरिपुम् / दैत्यान्निहतवान्वेदधर्मादीनभ्यपालयत्

Transliteration

narasiṃho 'vartorṇo 'tha hiraṇyakaśipuṃripum / daityānnihatavānvedadharmādīnabhyapālayat

Translation

随后，难以抗拒的那罗辛诃诛灭仇敌希兰亚迦尸布及诸代提耶，继而护持吠陀、达摩与神圣秩序。

Word by Word

• नरसिंहः: Narasimha
• नरसिंहः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नर (प्रातिपदिक) + सिंह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारयः (नरः इव सिंहः)

• अवतीर्णः: having descended
• अवतीर्णः: Karta (Predicate participle/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव + तॄ (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तरम् (then)

• हिरण्यकशिपुम्: Hiraṇyakaśipu
• हिरण्यकशिपुम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हिरण्य (प्रातिपदिक) + कशिपु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; समासः—बहुव्रीहिः (हिरण्यकशिपुः = हिरण्यं कशिपु यस्य)

• रिपुम्: the enemy
• रिपुम्: Karma (Appositional object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रिपु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), एकवचन; हिरण्यकशिपुम् इत्यस्य विशेषण/अपपद

• दैत्यान्: the demons (Daityas)
• दैत्यान्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन

• निहतवान्: slew/has slain
• निहतवान्: Kriya (Predicate/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + हन् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्तवत्), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; धातुः—हन् (to slay) उपसर्गः—नि

• वेद-धर्म-आदीन्: the Vedas, dharma, and other (principles)
• वेद-धर्म-आदीन्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वेद (प्रातिपदिक) + धर्म (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन; समासः—समाहार-द्वन्द्व/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व-प्रायः (वेदाश्च धर्माश्च आदयश्च)

• अभ्यपालयत्: protected/guarded
• अभ्यपालयत्: Kriya (Verb/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + पाल् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/अनद्यतनभूत), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; धातुः—पाल् (to protect) उपसर्गः—अभि

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (in discourse to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Dharma and Veda are safeguarded by the Lord; tyranny rooted in adharma is inevitably checked, often through unexpected divine means.

Vedantic Theme: Bhagavān as dharma-rakṣaka; līlā transcending binaries (man/beast, inside/outside) while remaining aligned with satya.

Application: Stand for truth and protect sacred learning/ethical institutions; resist oppression with courage and principled action.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Geographic Context

Type: royal threshold/pillar locus

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.142 (Nṛsiṃha in avatāra sequence)

Characters & Entities

• Narasimha
• Hiranyakashipu
• Daityas
• Veda
• Dharma

FAQs

What is the importance of Narasiṃha in the Garuda Purana?

This verse presents Narasiṃha as the divine force that destroys adharma (Hiraṇyakaśipu and the Daityas) and restores the protection of Veda and Dharma.

How does this verse relate to moral order and justice?

By linking the slaying of the tyrant to the safeguarding of Veda-Dharma, the verse frames divine justice as the re-establishment of rightful cosmic and ethical order.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Stand for dharma—protect truth, ethical conduct, and sacred learning—while resisting oppression and harmful actions that undermine social and spiritual order.