The Killing of the Demon Hiranyaksha

Verse 1 (bhagavata.3.19.1)

मैत्रेय उवाच अवधार्य विरिञ्चस्य निर्व्यलीकामृतं वचः । प्रहस्य प्रेमगर्भेण तदपाङ्गेन सोऽग्रहीत् ॥ १ ॥

maitreya uvāca avadhārya viriñcasya nirvyalīkāmṛtaṁ vacaḥ prahasya prema-garbheṇa tad apāṅgena so ’grahīt

Maitreya said: Having heard Brahma's guileless, nectar-sweet words, the Lord laughed, and with a glance brimming with love, He accepted them.

Verse 2 (bhagavata.3.19.2)

ततः सपत्नं मुखतश्चरन्तमकुतोभयम् । जघानोत्पत्य गदया हनावसुरमक्षजः ॥ २ ॥

tataḥ sapatnaṁ mukhataś carantam akuto-bhayam jaghānotpatya gadayā hanāv asuram akṣajaḥ

Then He who had appeared from the nostril sprang up and struck His mace at the chin of the enemy, who stalked fearlessly before Him.

Verse 3 (bhagavata.3.19.3)

सा हता तेन गदया विहता भगवत्करात् । विघूर्णितापतद्रेजे तदद्भुतमिवाभवत् ॥ ३ ॥

sā hatā tena gadayā vihatā bhagavat-karāt vighūrṇitāpatad reje tad adbhutam ivābhavat

Struck by the demon's mace, the Lord's own mace slipped from His hand; whirling as it fell, it still shone brilliantly, a wondrous sight indeed.

Verse 4 (bhagavata.3.19.4)

स तदा लब्धतीर्थोऽपि न बबाधे निरायुधम् । मानयन् स मृधे धर्मं विष्वक्सेनं प्रकोपयन् ॥ ४ ॥

sa tadā labdha-tīrtho ’pi na babādhe nirāyudham mānayan sa mṛdhe dharmaṁ viṣvaksenaṁ prakopayan

Though he had gained the perfect opening, he did not strike his unarmed foe, for he was honoring the rules of combat; and this very restraint only kindled the Lord's anger further.

Verse 5 (bhagavata.3.19.5)

गदायामपविद्धायां हाहाकारे विनिर्गते । मानयामास तद्धर्मं सुनाभं चास्मरद्विभुः ॥ ५ ॥

gadāyām apaviddhāyāṁ hāhā-kāre vinirgate mānayām āsa tad-dharmaṁ sunābhaṁ cāsmarad vibhuḥ

When the mace had fallen and a cry of alarm rose up on every side, the all-powerful Lord acknowledged the demon's sense of fair combat, and then called to mind His Sudarshana discus.

Verse 6 (bhagavata.3.19.6)

तं व्यग्रचक्रं दितिपुत्राधमेन स्वपार्षदमुख्येन विषज्जमानम् । चित्रा वाचोऽतद्विदां खेचराणां तत्र स्मासन् स्वस्ति तेऽमुं जहीति ॥ ६ ॥

taṁ vyagra-cakraṁ diti-putrādhamena sva-pārṣada-mukhyena viṣajjamānam citrā vāco ’tad-vidāṁ khe-carāṇāṁ tatra smāsan svasti te ’muṁ jahīti

As He wrestled at close range with him, His own chief attendant now born as the vile son of Diti, His discus whirling in His hand, all sorts of cries rose from the sky-travelers watching, who knew nothing of the truth: 'Victory to You! Kill him now!'

Verse 7 (bhagavata.3.19.7)

स तं निशाम्यात्तरथाङ्गमग्रतो व्यवस्थितं पद्मपलाशलोचनम् । विलोक्य चामर्षपरिप्लुतेन्द्रियो रुषा स्वदन्तच्छदमादशच्छ्वसन् ॥ ७ ॥

sa taṁ niśāmyātta-rathāṅgam agrato vyavasthitaṁ padma-palāśa-locanam vilokya cāmarṣa-pariplutendriyo ruṣā sva-danta-cchadam ādaśac chvasan

Seeing Him standing before him, His discus in hand, His eyes like lotus petals, the demon's senses were overcome with fury; hissing, he bit his own lip in rage.

Verse 8 (bhagavata.3.19.8)

करालदंष्ट्रश्चक्षुर्भ्यां सञ्चक्षाणो दहन्निव । अभिप्लुत्य स्वगदया हतोऽसीत्याहनद्धरिम् ॥ ८ ॥

karāla-daṁṣṭraś cakṣurbhyāṁ sañcakṣāṇo dahann iva abhiplutya sva-gadayā hato ’sīty āhanad dharim

Baring his fearsome tusks, glaring with both eyes as if to burn Him to ashes, he sprang forward and struck at Hari with his own mace, crying, 'You are slain!'

Verse 9 (bhagavata.3.19.9)

पदा सव्येन तां साधो भगवान् यज्ञसूकरः । लीलया मिषतः शत्रोः प्राहरद्वातरंहसम् ॥ ९ ॥

padā savyena tāṁ sādho bhagavān yajña-sūkaraḥ līlayā miṣataḥ śatroḥ prāharad vāta-raṁhasam

O saintly Vidura, the Lord, in His sacrificial boar-form, simply flicked away with His left foot the mace that came hurtling at Him with the speed of wind, while His enemy watched in astonishment.

Verse 10 (bhagavata.3.19.10)

आह चायुधमाधत्स्व घटस्व त्वं जिगीषसि । इत्युक्तःस तदा भूयस्ताडयन् व्यनदद् भृशम् ॥ १० ॥

āha cāyudham ādhatsva ghaṭasva tvaṁ jigīṣasi ity uktaḥ sa tadā bhūyas tāḍayan vyanadad bhṛśam

And He said: 'Take up your weapon again and try once more, since you are so eager to win.' Thus addressed, he struck again and let out a loud roar.

Verse 11 (bhagavata.3.19.11)

तां स आपततीं वीक्ष्य भगवान् समवस्थितः । जग्राह लीलया प्राप्तां गरुत्मानिव पन्नगीम् ॥ ११ ॥

tāṁ sa āpatatīṁ vīkṣya bhagavān samavasthitaḥ jagrāha līlayā prāptāṁ garutmān iva pannagīm

Seeing that mace flying toward Him, the Lord stood His ground and caught it with playful ease, just as Garuda would seize a serpent.

Verse 12 (bhagavata.3.19.12)

स्वपौरुषे प्रतिहते हतमानो महासुरः । नैच्छद्गदां दीयमानां हरिणा विगतप्रभः ॥ १२ ॥

sva-pauruṣe pratihate hata-māno mahāsuraḥ naicchad gadāṁ dīyamānāṁ hariṇā vigata-prabhaḥ

His own might thus thwarted, his pride crushed, the great demon, his splendor drained away, could not even bring himself to want the mace Hari now offered back to him.

Verse 13 (bhagavata.3.19.13)

जग्राह त्रिशिखं शूलं ज्वलज्ज्वलनलोलुपम् । यज्ञाय धृतरूपाय विप्रायाभिचरन् यथा ॥ १३ ॥

jagrāha tri-śikhaṁ śūlaṁ jvalaj-jvalana-lolupam yajñāya dhṛta-rūpāya viprāyābhicaran yathā

He now seized a three-pronged trident, as ravenous as blazing fire, and hurled it at the Lord who had assumed this form of the sacrifice, as one might direct black sorcery against a brahmana.

Verse 14 (bhagavata.3.19.14)

तदोजसा दैत्यमहाभटार्पितं चकासदन्तःख उदीर्णदीधिति । चक्रेण चिच्छेद निशातनेमिना हरिर्यथा तार्क्ष्यपतत्रमुज्झितम् ॥ १४ ॥

tad ojasā daitya-mahā-bhaṭārpitaṁ cakāsad antaḥ-kha udīrṇa-dīdhiti cakreṇa ciccheda niśāta-neminā harir yathā tārkṣya-patatram ujjhitam

Hurled with the demon's full strength, that trident blazed brightly through the middle of the sky; the Lord shattered it to pieces with His sharp-rimmed discus, just as Indra once severed a feather cast off by Garuda.

Verse 15 (bhagavata.3.19.15)

वृक्णे स्वशूले बहुधारिणा हरेः प्रत्येत्य विस्तीर्णमुरो विभूतिमत् । प्रवृद्धरोषः स कठोरमुष्टिना नदन् प्रहृत्यान्तरधीयतासुरः ॥ १५ ॥

vṛkṇe sva-śūle bahudhāriṇā hareḥ pratyetya vistīrṇam uro vibhūtimat pravṛddha-roṣaḥ sa kaṭhora-muṣṭinā nadan prahṛtyāntaradhīyatāsuraḥ

His trident smashed to fragments by Hari's discus, the demon's fury swelled; he advanced and struck the Lord's broad chest, the very abode of the goddess of fortune, with his hard fist, and roaring, then vanished from sight.

Verse 16 (bhagavata.3.19.16)

तेनेत्थमाहतः क्षत्तर्भगवानादिसूकरः । नाकम्पत मनाक् क्वापि स्रजा हत इव द्विपः ॥ १६ ॥

tenettham āhataḥ kṣattar bhagavān ādi-sūkaraḥ nākampata manāk kvāpi srajā hata iva dvipaḥ

O Kshatta, struck this way, the Lord in His primal boar form did not tremble even slightly anywhere in His body, any more than an elephant would flinch from being struck by a garland of flowers.

Verse 17 (bhagavata.3.19.17)

अथोरुधासृजन्मायां योगमायेश्वरे हरौ । यां विलोक्य प्रजास्त्रस्ता मेनिरेऽस्योपसंयमम् ॥ १७ ॥

athorudhāsṛjan māyāṁ yoga-māyeśvare harau yāṁ vilokya prajās trastā menire ’syopasaṁyamam

Then he unleashed illusion in countless forms against Hari, the very Lord of yogamaya; seeing this, the terrified people believed the dissolution of the universe was upon them.

Verse 18 (bhagavata.3.19.18)

प्रववुर्वायवश्चण्डास्तमः पांसवमैरयन् । दिग्भ्यो निपेतुर्ग्रावाणः क्षेपणैः प्रहिता इव ॥ १८ ॥

pravavur vāyavaś caṇḍās tamaḥ pāṁsavam airayan digbhyo nipetur grāvāṇaḥ kṣepaṇaiḥ prahitā iva

Violent winds began to blow, spreading a darkness of dust; from every direction stones came raining down, as if hurled from war-engines.

Verse 19 (bhagavata.3.19.19)

द्यौर्नष्टभगणाभ्रौघैः सविद्युत्स्तनयित्नुभिः । वर्षद्भिः पूयकेशासृग्विण्मूत्रास्थीनि चासकृत् ॥ १९ ॥

dyaur naṣṭa-bhagaṇābhraughaiḥ sa-vidyut-stanayitnubhiḥ varṣadbhiḥ pūya-keśāsṛg- viṇ-mūtrāsthīni cāsakṛt

The sky's luminaries vanished behind massing clouds thick with lightning and thunder, and from them fell repeated showers of pus, hair, blood, excrement, urine, and bones.

Verse 20 (bhagavata.3.19.20)

गिरयः प्रत्यदृश्यन्त नानायुधमुचोऽनघ । दिग्वाससो यातुधान्यः शूलिन्यो मुक्तमूर्धजाः ॥ २० ॥

girayaḥ pratyadṛśyanta nānāyudha-muco ’nagha dig-vāsaso yātudhānyaḥ śūlinyo mukta-mūrdhajāḥ

O sinless Vidura, mountains appeared, hurling every kind of weapon, and naked she-demons, tridents in hand, their hair streaming loose, appeared as well.

Verse 21 (bhagavata.3.19.21)

बहुभिर्यक्षरक्षोभिः पत्त्यश्वरथकुञ्जरैः । आततायिभिरुत्सृष्टा हिंस्रा वाचोऽतिवैशसाः ॥ २१ ॥

bahubhir yakṣa-rakṣobhiḥ patty-aśva-ratha-kuñjaraiḥ ātatāyibhir utsṛṣṭā hiṁsrā vāco ’tivaiśasāḥ

Hordes of Yakshas and Rakshasas, murderous ruffians mounted on foot, horse, chariot, and elephant, set up cruel and bloodthirsty cries.

Verse 22 (bhagavata.3.19.22)

प्रादुष्कृतानां मायानामासुरीणां विनाशयत् । सुदर्शनास्त्रं भगवान् प्रायुङ्क्त दयितं त्रिपात् ॥ २२ ॥

prāduṣkṛtānāṁ māyānām āsurīṇāṁ vināśayat sudarśanāstraṁ bhagavān prāyuṅkta dayitaṁ tri-pāt

To destroy all the demonic illusions that had been unleashed, the Lord, the enjoyer of the threefold sacrifice, released His beloved Sudarshana weapon.

Verse 23 (bhagavata.3.19.23)

तदा दितेः समभवत्सहसा हृदि वेपथुः । स्मरन्त्या भर्तुरादेशं स्तनाच्चासृक् प्रसुस्रुवे ॥ २३ ॥

tadā diteḥ samabhavat sahasā hṛdi vepathuḥ smarantyā bhartur ādeśaṁ stanāc cāsṛk prasusruve

At that very moment, a sudden tremor ran through Diti's heart; recalling her husband's warning, blood began to flow from her breasts.

Verse 24 (bhagavata.3.19.24)

विनष्टासु स्वमायासु भूयश्चाव्रज्य केशवम् । रुषोपगूहमानोऽमुं ददृशेऽवस्थितं बहिः ॥ २४ ॥

vinaṣṭāsu sva-māyāsu bhūyaś cāvrajya keśavam ruṣopagūhamāno ’muṁ dadṛśe ’vasthitaṁ bahiḥ

His conjured illusions destroyed, he came again before Keshava and, in his fury, lunged to crush Him in an embrace, only to find the Lord standing outside the circle of his arms.

Verse 25 (bhagavata.3.19.25)

तं मुष्टिभिर्विनिघ्नन्तं वज्रसारैरधोक्षजः । करेण कर्णमूलेऽहन् यथा त्वाष्ट्रं मरुत्पतिः ॥ २५ ॥

taṁ muṣṭibhir vinighnantaṁ vajra-sārair adhokṣajaḥ kareṇa karṇa-mūle ’han yathā tvāṣṭraṁ marut-patiḥ

As he rained down fists as hard as thunderbolts, Adhokshaja struck him with His hand at the root of the ear, just as Indra, lord of the Maruts, once struck the son of Tvashta.

Verse 26 (bhagavata.3.19.26)

स आहतो विश्वजिता ह्यवज्ञया परिभ्रमद्गात्र उदस्तलोचनः । विशीर्णबाह्वङ्घ्रिशिरोरुहोऽपतद् यथा नगेन्द्रो लुलितो नभस्वता ॥ २६ ॥

sa āhato viśva-jitā hy avajñayā paribhramad-gātra udasta-locanaḥ viśīrṇa-bāhv-aṅghri-śiroruho ’patad yathā nagendro lulito nabhasvatā

Struck almost casually by the Conqueror of All, his body spun, his eyes bulged from their sockets, his arms and legs shattered, his hair flying loose, and he fell like some great mountain-tree uprooted by the wind.

Verse 27 (bhagavata.3.19.27)

क्षितौ शयानं तमकुण्ठवर्चसं करालदंष्ट्रं परिदष्टदच्छदम् । अजादयो वीक्ष्य शशंसुरागता अहो इमां को नु लभेत संस्थितिम् ॥ २७ ॥

kṣitau śayānaṁ tam akuṇṭha-varcasaṁ karāla-daṁṣṭraṁ paridaṣṭa-dacchadam ajādayo vīkṣya śaśaṁsur āgatā aho imaṁ ko nu labheta saṁsthitim

Seeing him lying on the earth, his splendor still undiminished, his tusks fearsome, his own lip caught between his teeth, Brahma and the others who had gathered there exclaimed in wonder: 'Ah, who indeed could attain a death like this!'

Verse 28 (bhagavata.3.19.28)

यं योगिनो योगसमाधिना रहो ध्यायन्ति लिङ्गादसतो मुमुक्षया । तस्यैष दैत्यऋषभः पदाहतो मुखं प्रपश्यंस्तनुमुत्ससर्ज ह ॥ २८ ॥

yaṁ yogino yoga-samādhinā raho dhyāyanti liṅgād asato mumukṣayā tasyaiṣa daitya-ṛṣabhaḥ padāhato mukhaṁ prapaśyaṁs tanum utsasarja ha

He whom yogis in solitude meditate upon through the trance of yoga, longing for release from this unreal subtle body, it was by that very Lord's foot that this foremost of demons was struck down, and gazing upon His face, he cast off his body.

Verse 29 (bhagavata.3.19.29)

एतौ तौ पार्षदावस्य शापाद्यातावसद्गतिम् । पुनः कतिपयैः स्थानं प्रपत्स्येते ह जन्मभिः ॥ २९ ॥

etau tau pārṣadāv asya śāpād yātāv asad-gatim punaḥ katipayaiḥ sthānaṁ prapatsyete ha janmabhiḥ

These two are none other than the Lord's own personal attendants, who through a curse have taken these ill-fated births; after a few more births, they will regain their own true position.

Verse 30 (bhagavata.3.19.30)

देवा ऊचुः नमो नमस्तेऽखिलयज्ञतन्तवे स्थितौ गृहीतामलसत्त्वमूर्तये । दिष्टया हतोऽयं जगतामरुन्तुद- स्त्वत्पादभक्त्या वयमीश निर्वृताः ॥ ३० ॥

devā ūcuḥ namo namas te ’khila-yajña-tantave sthitau gṛhītāmala-sattva-mūrtaye diṣṭyā hato ’yaṁ jagatām aruntudas tvat-pāda-bhaktyā vayam īśa nirvṛtāḥ

The demigods said: Obeisance, obeisance to You, the very thread on which all sacrifice is strung, who for the world's sustenance have taken this form of pure, unsullied goodness. Fortunately this tormentor of the worlds has now been slain; through devotion to Your feet, O Lord, we have found our peace.

Verse 31 (bhagavata.3.19.31)

मैत्रेय उवाच एवं हिरण्याक्षमसह्यविक्रमं स सादयित्वा हरिरादिसूकरः । जगाम लोकं स्वमखण्डितोत्सवं समीडितः पुष्करविष्टरादिभिः ॥ ३१ ॥

maitreya uvāca evaṁ hiraṇyākṣam asahya-vikramaṁ sa sādayitvā harir ādi-sūkaraḥ jagāma lokaṁ svam akhaṇḍitotsavaṁ samīḍitaḥ puṣkara-viṣṭarādibhiḥ

Maitreya said: Having thus finished off Hiranyaksha of unbearable prowess, Hari, the primal boar, praised by lotus-seated Brahma and the other demigods, returned to His own abode, where an unbroken festival forever reigns.

Verse 32 (bhagavata.3.19.32)

मया यथानूक्तमवादि ते हरेः कृतावतारस्य सुमित्र चेष्टितम् । यथा हिरण्याक्ष उदारविक्रमो महामृधे क्रीडनवन्निराकृतः ॥ ३२ ॥

mayā yathānūktam avādi te hareḥ kṛtāvatārasya sumitra ceṣṭitam yathā hiraṇyākṣa udāra-vikramo mahā-mṛdhe krīḍanavan nirākṛtaḥ

O good friend, I have told you, exactly as it was told to me, of the deeds of Hari in His incarnation, how Hiranyaksha of vast prowess was, in that great battle, cast aside as easily as a mere plaything.

Verse 33 (bhagavata.3.19.33)

सूत उवाच इति कौषारवाख्यातामाश्रुत्य भगवत्कथाम् । क्षत्तानन्दं परं लेभे महाभागवतो द्विज ॥ ३३ ॥

sūta uvāca iti kauṣāravākhyātām āśrutya bhagavat-kathām kṣattānandaṁ paraṁ lebhe mahā-bhāgavato dvija

Suta said: O brahmana, having thus heard this account of the Lord from Kaushara's son, Maitreya, the great devotee Vidura attained supreme bliss.

Verse 34 (bhagavata.3.19.34)

अन्येषां पुण्यश्लोकानामुद्दामयशसां सताम् । उपश्रुत्य भवेन्मोदः श्रीवत्साङ्कस्य किं पुनः ॥ ३४ ॥

anyeṣāṁ puṇya-ślokānām uddāma-yaśasāṁ satām upaśrutya bhaven modaḥ śrīvatsāṅkasya kiṁ punaḥ

Even hearing of other pious, far-famed saints brings delight, so what need be said of hearing of Him who bears the mark of Shrivatsa upon His chest?

Verse 35 (bhagavata.3.19.35)

यो गजेन्द्र झषग्रस्तं ध्यायन्तं चरणाम्बुजम् । क्रोशन्तीनां करेणूनां कृच्छ्रतोऽमोचयद् द्रुतम् ॥ ३५ ॥

yo gajendraṁ jhaṣa-grastaṁ dhyāyantaṁ caraṇāmbujam krośantīnāṁ kareṇūnāṁ kṛcchrato ’mocayad drutam

He who swiftly rescued the king of elephants from the jaws of the alligator that had seized him, while he meditated upon the Lord's lotus feet, and while the female elephants around him wept and cried out.

Verse 36 (bhagavata.3.19.36)

तं सुखाराध्यमृजुभिरनन्यशरणैर्नृभिः । कृतज्ञः को न सेवेत दुराराध्यमसाधुभिः ॥ ३६ ॥

taṁ sukhārādhyam ṛjubhir ananya-śaraṇair nṛbhiḥ kṛtajñaḥ ko na seveta durārādhyam asādhubhiḥ

What grateful soul would not serve Him, who is so easily worshiped by the upright who seek no other refuge, yet so hard for the wicked to propitiate?

Verse 37 (bhagavata.3.19.37)

यो वै हिरण्याक्षवधं महाद्भुतं विक्रीडितं कारणसूकरात्मनः । शृणोति गायत्यनुमोदतेऽञ्जसा विमुच्यते ब्रह्मवधादपि द्विजाः ॥ ३७ ॥

yo vai hiraṇyākṣa-vadhaṁ mahādbhutaṁ vikrīḍitaṁ kāraṇa-sūkarātmanaḥ śṛṇoti gāyaty anumodate ’ñjasā vimucyate brahma-vadhād api dvijāḥ

O brahmanas, whoever hears, sings, or simply takes delight in this most wondrous pastime, the slaying of Hiranyaksha by Him who took the boar's form for that very purpose, is instantly freed even from the sin of killing a brahmana.

Verse 38 (bhagavata.3.19.38)

एतन्महापुण्यमलं पवित्रं धन्यं यशस्यं पदमायुराशिषाम् । प्राणेन्द्रियाणां युधि शौर्यवर्धनं नारायणोऽन्ते गतिरङ्ग शृण्वताम् ॥ ३८ ॥

etan mahā-puṇyam alaṁ pavitraṁ dhanyaṁ yaśasyaṁ padam āyur-āśiṣām prāṇendriyāṇāṁ yudhi śaurya-vardhanaṁ nārāyaṇo ’nte gatir aṅga śṛṇvatām

This narrative confers immense merit, is deeply purifying, brings wealth and fame, and is the very abode of long life and every desire fulfilled; on the field of battle it fortifies the courage of one's vital breath and senses. O dear Shaunaka, for those who hear it, Narayana Himself becomes their refuge at life's very end.