राम

Harivaṃśa-parva

Harivaṃśa · Adhyāya 38

80 versesThe Flight of the Five

Synopsis

Five realities stand with Nārāyaṇa and flee Kālanemi's presence: Veda, dharma, kṣamā (patience), satya, and Śrī. Finding them gone from him, Kālanemi seeks the abode of Viṣṇu. A close-fought passage follows in which Kālanemi's form drinks the blood, marrow, and bone of the slain, gold-dust clinging to his feet. The chapter ends with a direct address to the reader: "This wonder occurred in the war of Tārakā, between the dānavas and Viṣṇu, that you have now asked me about."

First-pass synopsis; pending review by a Sanskritist.

Verse 1

पञ्च तं नाभ्यवर्तन्त विपरीतेन कर्मणा वेदो धर्मः क्षमा सत्यं श्रीश् च नारायणाश्रया

pañca taṃ nābhyavartanta viparītena karmaṇā vedo dharmaḥ kṣamā satyaṃ śrīś ca nārāyaṇāśrayā

Five did not come close to him, being of the opposite action: Veda, Dharma, Kṣamā (patience), Satya, and Śrī, the refuge of Nārāyaṇa.

Verse 2

स तेषाम् अनुपस्थानात् सक्रोधो दानवेश्वरः वैष्णवं पदम् अन्विच्छन् ययौ नारायणान्तिकम्

sa teṣām anupasthānāt sakrodho dānaveśvaraḥ vaiṣṇavaṃ padam anvicchan yayau nārāyaṇāntikam

Verse 3

स ददर्श सुपर्णस्थं शङ्खचक्रगदाधरम् दानवानां विनाशाय भ्रामयन्तं गदां शुभाम्

sa dadarśa suparṇasthaṃ śaṅkhacakragadādharam dānavānāṃ vināśāya bhrāmayantaṃ gadāṃ śubhām

Verse 4

सजलाम्भोदसदृशं विद्युत्सदृशवाससम् स्वारूढं स्वर्णपत्राढ्यं शिखिनं काश्यपं खगम्

sajalāmbhodasadṛśaṃ vidyutsadṛśavāsasam svārūḍhaṃ svarṇapatrāḍhyaṃ śikhinaṃ kāśyapaṃ khagam

Verse 5

दृष्ट्वा दैत्यविनाशाय रणे स्वस्थम् अवस्थितम् दानवो विष्णुम् अक्षोभ्यं बभाषे क्षुब्धमानसः

dṛṣṭvā daityavināśāya raṇe svastham avasthitam dānavo viṣṇum akṣobhyaṃ babhāṣe kṣubdhamānasaḥ

Verse 6

अयं स रिपुर् अस्माकं पूर्वेषां दानवर्षिणाम् अर्णवावासिनश् चैव मधोर् वै कैटभस्य च

ayaṃ sa ripur asmākaṃ pūrveṣāṃ dānavarṣiṇām arṇavāvāsinaś caiva madhor vai kaiṭabhasya ca

Verse 7

अयं स विग्रहो ऽस्माकम् अशाम्यः किल कथ्यते येन नः संयुगेष्व् अद्य बहवो दानवा हताः

ayaṃ sa vigraho 'smākam aśāmyaḥ kila kathyate yena naḥ saṃyugeṣv adya bahavo dānavā hatāḥ

Verse 8

अयं स निर्घृणो युद्धे स्त्रीबालनिरपत्रपः येन दानवनारीणां सीमन्तोद्धरणं कृतम्

ayaṃ sa nirghṛṇo yuddhe strībālanirapatrapaḥ yena dānavanārīṇāṃ sīmantoddharaṇaṃ kṛtam

Verse 9

अयं स विष्णुर् देवानां वैकुण्ठश् च दिवौकसाम् अनन्तो भोगिनाम् अप्सु स्वयंभूश् च स्वयंभुवः

ayaṃ sa viṣṇur devānāṃ vaikuṇṭhaś ca divaukasām ananto bhoginām apsu svayaṃbhūś ca svayaṃbhuvaḥ

Verse 10

अयं स नाथो देवानाम् अस्माभिर् विप्रकृष्यताम् अस्य क्रोधं समासाद्य हिरण्यकशिपुर् हतः

ayaṃ sa nātho devānām asmābhir viprakṛṣyatām asya krodhaṃ samāsādya hiraṇyakaśipur hataḥ

Verse 11

अस्य च्छायां समाश्रित्य देवा मखमुखे स्थिताः आज्यं महर्षिभिर् दत्तम् अश्नुवन्ति त्रिधा हुतम्

asya cchāyāṃ samāśritya devā makhamukhe sthitāḥ ājyaṃ maharṣibhir dattam aśnuvanti tridhā hutam

Verse 12

अयं स निधने हेतुः सर्वेषां दैतवद्विषाम् अस्य चक्रं प्रविष्टानि कुलान्य् अस्माकम् आहवे

ayaṃ sa nidhane hetuḥ sarveṣāṃ daitavadviṣām asya cakraṃ praviṣṭāni kulāny asmākam āhave

Verse 13

अयं स किल युद्धेषु सुरार्थे त्यक्तजीवितः सवितुस् तेजसा तुल्यं चक्रं क्षिपति शत्रुषु

ayaṃ sa kila yuddheṣu surārthe tyaktajīvitaḥ savitus tejasā tulyaṃ cakraṃ kṣipati śatruṣu

Verse 14

अयं स कालो दैत्यानां कालभूते मयि स्थिते अतिक्रान्तस्य कालस्य फलं प्राप्स्यति दुर्मतिः

ayaṃ sa kālo daityānāṃ kālabhūte mayi sthite atikrāntasya kālasya phalaṃ prāpsyati durmatiḥ

Verse 15

दिष्ट्येदानीं समक्षं मे विष्णुर् एष समागतः अद्य मद्बाणनिष्पिष्टो मय्य् एव प्रणमिष्यति

diṣṭyedānīṃ samakṣaṃ me viṣṇur eṣa samāgataḥ adya madbāṇaniṣpiṣṭo mayy eva praṇamiṣyati

Verse 16

यास्याम्य् अपचितिं दिष्ट्या पूर्वेषाम् अद्य संयुगे इमं नारायणं हत्वा दानवानां भयावहम्

yāsyāmy apacitiṃ diṣṭyā pūrveṣām adya saṃyuge imaṃ nārāyaṇaṃ hatvā dānavānāṃ bhayāvaham

Verse 17

क्षिप्रम् एव वधिष्यामि रणे नारायणं शैरैः जात्यन्तरगतो ह्य् एष मृधे बाधति दानवान्

kṣipram eva vadhiṣyāmi raṇe nārāyaṇaṃ śairaiḥ jātyantaragato hy eṣa mṛdhe bādhati dānavān

Verse 18

एषो ऽन्तकः पुरा भूत्वा पद्मनाभ इति स्मृतः जघानैकार्णवे घोरे ताव् उभौ मधुकैटभौ

eṣo 'ntakaḥ purā bhūtvā padmanābha iti smṛtaḥ jaghānaikārṇave ghore tāv ubhau madhukaiṭabhau

Verse 19

विनिवेश्य स्वके ऊरौ निहतौ दानवेश्वरौ द्विधाभूतं वपुः कृत्वा सिंहार्धं नरसंस्थितम् पितरं मे जघानैको हिरण्यकशिपुं पुरा

viniveśya svake ūrau nihatau dānaveśvarau dvidhābhūtaṃ vapuḥ kṛtvā siṃhārdhaṃ narasaṃsthitam pitaraṃ me jaghānaiko hiraṇyakaśipuṃ purā

Verse 20

शुभं गर्भम् अधत्तैनम् अदितिर् देवतारणिः यज्ञकाले बलेर् यो वै कृत्वा वामनरूपताम् त्रींल् लोकांश् च जहारैष क्रममाणस् त्रिभिः क्रमैः

śubhaṃ garbham adhattainam aditir devatāraṇiḥ yajñakāle baler yo vai kṛtvā vāmanarūpatām trīṃl lokāṃś ca jahāraiṣa kramamāṇas tribhiḥ kramaiḥ

Verse 21

भूयस् त्व् इदानीं समरे संप्राप्ते तारकामये मया सह समागम्य सदेवो विनशिष्यति

bhūyas tv idānīṃ samare saṃprāpte tārakāmaye mayā saha samāgamya sadevo vinaśiṣyati

Verse 22

स एवम् उक्त्वा बहुधा क्षिपन् नारायणं रणे वाग्भिर् अप्रतिरूपाभिर् युद्धम् एवाभ्यरोचयत्

sa evam uktvā bahudhā kṣipan nārāyaṇaṃ raṇe vāgbhir apratirūpābhir yuddham evābhyarocayat

Verse 23

क्षिप्यमाणो ऽसुरेन्द्रेण य चुकोप गदाधरः क्षमाबलेन मनसा सस्मितं वाक्यम् अब्रवीत्

kṣipyamāṇo 'surendreṇa ya cukopa gadādharaḥ kṣamābalena manasā sasmitaṃ vākyam abravīt

Verse 24

अलं दर्पबलं दैत्य स्थिरं मत्क्रोधजं बलम् हतस् त्वं दर्पजैर् दोषैः क्षमां यो ऽतीत्य भाषसे

alaṃ darpabalaṃ daitya sthiraṃ matkrodhajaṃ balam hatas tvaṃ darpajair doṣaiḥ kṣamāṃ yo 'tītya bhāṣase

Verse 25

अधमस् त्वं मम मतो धिग् एतत् तव वाग्बलम् न तत्र पुरुषाः सन्ति यत्र गर्जन्ति योषितः

adhamas tvaṃ mama mato dhig etat tava vāgbalam na tatra puruṣāḥ santi yatra garjanti yoṣitaḥ

Verse 26

अहं त्वां दैत्य पश्यामि पूर्वेषां मार्गगामिनम् प्रजापतिकृतं सेतुं को भित्त्वा स्वस्तिमान् व्रजेत्

ahaṃ tvāṃ daitya paśyāmi pūrveṣāṃ mārgagāminam prajāpatikṛtaṃ setuṃ ko bhittvā svastimān vrajet

Verse 27

अद्य त्वां नाशयिष्यामि देवव्याघातकारिणम् स्वेषु स्वेषु च स्थानेषु स्थापयिष्यामि देवताः

adya tvāṃ nāśayiṣyāmi devavyāghātakāriṇam sveṣu sveṣu ca sthāneṣu sthāpayiṣyāmi devatāḥ

Verse 28

एवं ब्रुवति वाक्यं तु मृधे श्रीवत्सधारिणि जहास दानवः क्रोधाद् धस्तांश् चक्रे च सायुधान्

evaṃ bruvati vākyaṃ tu mṛdhe śrīvatsadhāriṇi jahāsa dānavaḥ krodhād dhastāṃś cakre ca sāyudhān

Verse 29

स बाहुशतम् उद्यम्य सर्वास्त्रग्रहणं रणे क्रोधाद् रुधिररक्ताक्षो विष्णोर् वक्षस्य् अताडयत्

sa bāhuśatam udyamya sarvāstragrahaṇaṃ raṇe krodhād rudhiraraktākṣo viṣṇor vakṣasy atāḍayat

Verse 30

दानवाश् चापि समरे मयतारपुरोगमाः उद्यतायुधनिस्त्रिंशाः सर्वे विष्णुम् अभिद्रवन्

dānavāś cāpi samare mayatārapurogamāḥ udyatāyudhanistriṃśāḥ sarve viṣṇum abhidravan

Verse 31

स ताड्यमानो ऽतिबलैर् दैत्यैः सर्वायुधोद्यतैः न चचाल हरिर् युद्धे ऽकम्प्यमान इवाचलः

sa tāḍyamāno 'tibalair daityaiḥ sarvāyudhodyataiḥ na cacāla harir yuddhe 'kampyamāna ivācalaḥ

Verse 32

संसक्तश् च सुपर्णेन कालनेमिर् महासुरः सर्वप्राणेन महतीं गदाम् उद्यम्य बाहुभिः मुमोच ज्वलितां घोरां संरब्धो गरुडोपरि

saṃsaktaś ca suparṇena kālanemir mahāsuraḥ sarvaprāṇena mahatīṃ gadām udyamya bāhubhiḥ mumoca jvalitāṃ ghorāṃ saṃrabdho garuḍopari

Verse 33

कर्मणा तेन दैत्यस्य विष्णुर् विस्मयम् आगमत् स तेन ताडितः पक्षी चचाल च पुनः पुनः हरिणा वर्धितबलो न मोहम् उपगच्छति येन तस्य सुपर्णस्य पतिता मूर्ध्नि सा गदा

karmaṇā tena daityasya viṣṇur vismayam āgamat sa tena tāḍitaḥ pakṣī cacāla ca punaḥ punaḥ hariṇā vardhitabalo na moham upagacchati yena tasya suparṇasya patitā mūrdhni sā gadā

Verse 34

तदागमत् पदा भूमिं पक्षी व्यथितविग्रहः लोष्टैः सर्ष्टिशिलाभिश् च वज्रप्रहरणैस् ततः जघ्नुस् ते समरे विष्णुं गोपालं च महारणे भ्रमन्तं घूर्णमानं च स्तुतिं देवाः प्रचक्रिरे जय देव महाबाहो मधुकैटभनाशन हिरण्यकशिपोर् वक्षो नखलाङ्गलदारण उत्तस्थौ च रणाद् विष्णुर् अमरैः संस्तुतः पुरा हतं विष्णुं समाज्ञाय शङ्खं दध्मौ स दानवः मृदङ्गांश् च त्रिधा तत्र वादयन्तो महासुराः तालाश्रयाश् च ननृतुर् महोत्सव इवाबभौ सुपर्णं व्यथितं दृष्ट्वा क्षतं च वपुर् आत्मनः क्रोधात् संरक्तनयनो वैकुण्ठश् चक्रमाददे

tadāgamat padā bhūmiṃ pakṣī vyathitavigrahaḥ loṣṭaiḥ sarṣṭiśilābhiś ca vajrapraharaṇais tataḥ jaghnus te samare viṣṇuṃ gopālaṃ ca mahāraṇe bhramantaṃ ghūrṇamānaṃ ca stutiṃ devāḥ pracakrire jaya deva mahābāho madhukaiṭabhanāśana hiraṇyakaśipor vakṣo nakhalāṅgaladāraṇa uttasthau ca raṇād viṣṇur amaraiḥ saṃstutaḥ purā hataṃ viṣṇuṃ samājñāya śaṅkhaṃ dadhmau sa dānavaḥ mṛdaṅgāṃś ca tridhā tatra vādayanto mahāsurāḥ tālāśrayāś ca nanṛtur mahotsava ivābabhau suparṇaṃ vyathitaṃ dṛṣṭvā kṣataṃ ca vapur ātmanaḥ krodhāt saṃraktanayano vaikuṇṭhaś cakramādade

Verse 35

व्यवर्धत च वेगेन सुपर्णेन समं विभुः भुजाश् चास्य व्यवर्धन्त व्याप्नुवन्तो दिशो दश

vyavardhata ca vegena suparṇena samaṃ vibhuḥ bhujāś cāsya vyavardhanta vyāpnuvanto diśo daśa

Verse 36

स दिशः प्रदिशश् चैव खं च गां चैव पूरयन् ववृधे स पुनर् लोकान् क्रान्तुकाम इवौजसा

sa diśaḥ pradiśaś caiva khaṃ ca gāṃ caiva pūrayan vavṛdhe sa punar lokān krāntukāma ivaujasā

Verse 37

तं जयाय सुरेन्द्राणां वर्धमानं नभस्तले ऋषयः सह गन्धर्वैस् तुष्टुवुर् मधुसूदनम्

taṃ jayāya surendrāṇāṃ vardhamānaṃ nabhastale ṛṣayaḥ saha gandharvais tuṣṭuvur madhusūdanam

Verse 38

नमो ऽस्तु देवदेवेश शङ्खचक्रगदाधर विष्णो कृष्ण हृषीकेश जहि दैत्यं महाबलम् नमस् तुभ्यं विरूपाक्ष शंकरस्य जगत्पते पाहि नः सकलान् अस्माञ् जहि दैत्यं महाबलम् स द्यां किरीटेन लिखन् साभ्रम् अम्बरम् अम्बरैः पद्भ्याम् आक्रम्य वसुधां दिशः प्रच्छाद्य बाहुभिः

namo 'stu devadeveśa śaṅkhacakragadādhara viṣṇo kṛṣṇa hṛṣīkeśa jahi daityaṃ mahābalam namas tubhyaṃ virūpākṣa śaṃkarasya jagatpate pāhi naḥ sakalān asmāñ jahi daityaṃ mahābalam sa dyāṃ kirīṭena likhan sābhram ambaram ambaraiḥ padbhyām ākramya vasudhāṃ diśaḥ pracchādya bāhubhiḥ

Verse 39

स सूर्यकरतुल्याभं सहस्रारम् अरिक्षयम् दीप्ताग्निसदृशं घोरं दर्शनीयं सुदर्शनम्

sa sūryakaratulyābhaṃ sahasrāram arikṣayam dīptāgnisadṛśaṃ ghoraṃ darśanīyaṃ sudarśanam

Verse 40

सुवर्णरेणुपर्यन्तं वज्रनाभं भयावहम् मेदोस्थिमज्जारुधिरैः सिक्तं दानवसंभवैः

suvarṇareṇuparyantaṃ vajranābhaṃ bhayāvaham medosthimajjārudhiraiḥ siktaṃ dānavasaṃbhavaiḥ

Verse 41

अद्वितीयं प्रहारेषु क्षुरपर्यन्तमण्डलम् स्रग्दाममालाविततं कामगं कामरूपिणम्

advitīyaṃ prahāreṣu kṣuraparyantamaṇḍalam sragdāmamālāvitataṃ kāmagaṃ kāmarūpiṇam

Verse 42

स्वयं स्वयंभुवा सृष्टं भयदं सर्वविद्विषाम् महर्षिरोषैर् आविष्टं नित्यम् आहवदर्पितम्

svayaṃ svayaṃbhuvā sṛṣṭaṃ bhayadaṃ sarvavidviṣām maharṣiroṣair āviṣṭaṃ nityam āhavadarpitam

Verse 43

क्षेपणाद्यस्य मुह्यन्ति लोकाः सस्थाणुजंगमाः क्रव्यादानि च भूतानि तृप्तिं यान्ति महामृधे

kṣepaṇādyasya muhyanti lokāḥ sasthāṇujaṃgamāḥ kravyādāni ca bhūtāni tṛptiṃ yānti mahāmṛdhe

Verse 44

तम् अप्रतिमकर्माणं समानं सूर्यवर्चसा चक्रम् उद्यस्य समरे क्रोधदीप्तो गदाधरः

tam apratimakarmāṇaṃ samānaṃ sūryavarcasā cakram udyasya samare krodhadīpto gadādharaḥ

Verse 45

संमुष्णन् दानवं तेजः समरे स्वेन तेजसा चिच्छेद बाहूंश् चक्रेण श्रीधरः कालनेमिनः

saṃmuṣṇan dānavaṃ tejaḥ samare svena tejasā ciccheda bāhūṃś cakreṇa śrīdharaḥ kālaneminaḥ

Verse 46

तच् च वक्त्रशतं घोरं साग्निचूर्णाट्टहासि यत् तस्य दैत्यस्य चक्रेण प्रममाथ बलाद् धरिः

tac ca vaktraśataṃ ghoraṃ sāgnicūrṇāṭṭahāsi yat tasya daityasya cakreṇa pramamātha balād dhariḥ

Verse 47

स च्छिन्नबाहुर् विशिरा न प्राकम्पत दानवः कबन्धावस्थितः संख्ये विशाख इव पादपः

sa cchinnabāhur viśirā na prākampata dānavaḥ kabandhāvasthitaḥ saṃkhye viśākha iva pādapaḥ

Verse 48

तं वितत्य महापक्षौ वायोः कृत्वा समं जवम् उरसा पातयाम् आस गरुडः कालनेमिनम्

taṃ vitatya mahāpakṣau vāyoḥ kṛtvā samaṃ javam urasā pātayām āsa garuḍaḥ kālaneminam

Verse 49

स तस्य देहो विमुखो विशाखः खात् परिभ्रमन् निपपात दिवं त्यक्त्वा क्षोभयन् धरणीतलम्

sa tasya deho vimukho viśākhaḥ khāt paribhraman nipapāta divaṃ tyaktvā kṣobhayan dharaṇītalam

Verse 50

तस्मिन् निपतिते दैत्ये देवाः सर्षिगणास् तदा साधु साध्व् इति वैकुण्ठं समेताः प्रत्यपूजयन्

tasmin nipatite daitye devāḥ sarṣigaṇās tadā sādhu sādhv iti vaikuṇṭhaṃ sametāḥ pratyapūjayan

Verse 51

अपरे ये तु दैत्या वै युद्धे दृष्टपराक्रमाः ते सर्वे बाहुभिर् व्याप्ता न शेकुश् चलितुं रणे

apare ye tu daityā vai yuddhe dṛṣṭaparākramāḥ te sarve bāhubhir vyāptā na śekuś calituṃ raṇe

Verse 52

कांश्चित् केशेषु जग्राह कांश्चित् कण्ठे न्यपीडयत् पाटयन् कस्यचिद् वक्त्रं मध्ये कांश्चिद् अगृह्यत

kāṃścit keśeṣu jagrāha kāṃścit kaṇṭhe nyapīḍayat pāṭayan kasyacid vaktraṃ madhye kāṃścid agṛhyata

Verse 53

ते गदाचक्रनिर्दग्धा गतसत्त्वा गतासवः गगनाद् भ्रष्टसर्वाङ्गा निपेतुर् धरणीतले

te gadācakranirdagdhā gatasattvā gatāsavaḥ gaganād bhraṣṭasarvāṅgā nipetur dharaṇītale

Verse 54

तेषु सर्वेषु दैत्येषु हतेषु पुरुषोत्तमः तस्थौ शक्रप्रियं कृत्वा कृतकर्मा गदाधरः

teṣu sarveṣu daityeṣu hateṣu puruṣottamaḥ tasthau śakrapriyaṃ kṛtvā kṛtakarmā gadādharaḥ

Verse 55

तस्मिन् विमर्दे निर्वृत्ते संग्रामे तारकामये तं देशम् आजगामाशु ब्रह्मा लोकपितामहः

tasmin vimarde nirvṛtte saṃgrāme tārakāmaye taṃ deśam ājagāmāśu brahmā lokapitāmahaḥ

Verse 56

सर्वैर् ब्रह्मर्षिभिः सार्धं गन्धर्वैः साप्सरोगणैः देवदेवो हरिं देवं पूजयन् वाक्यम् अब्रवीत्

sarvair brahmarṣibhiḥ sārdhaṃ gandharvaiḥ sāpsarogaṇaiḥ devadevo hariṃ devaṃ pūjayan vākyam abravīt

Verse 57

कृतं देव महत्कर्म सुराणां शल्यम् उद्धृतम् वधेनानेन दैत्यानां वयं च परितोषिताः

kṛtaṃ deva mahatkarma surāṇāṃ śalyam uddhṛtam vadhenānena daityānāṃ vayaṃ ca paritoṣitāḥ

Verse 58

यो ऽयं त्वया हतो विष्णो कालनेमिर् महासुरः त्वम् एको ऽस्य मृधे हन्ता नान्यः कश्चन विद्यते

yo 'yaṃ tvayā hato viṣṇo kālanemir mahāsuraḥ tvam eko 'sya mṛdhe hantā nānyaḥ kaścana vidyate

Verse 59

एष देवान् परिभवंल् लोकांश् च सचराचरान् ऋषीणां कदनं कृत्वा माम् अपि प्रतिगर्जति

eṣa devān paribhavaṃl lokāṃś ca sacarācarān ṛṣīṇāṃ kadanaṃ kṛtvā mām api pratigarjati

Verse 60

तद् अनेन तवोग्रेण परितुष्टो ऽस्मि कर्मणा यद् अयं कालतुल्याभः कालनेमिर् निपातितः

tad anena tavogreṇa parituṣṭo 'smi karmaṇā yad ayaṃ kālatulyābhaḥ kālanemir nipātitaḥ

Verse 61

तदागच्छस्व भद्रं ते गच्छाम दिवम् उत्तमम् ब्रह्मर्षयस् त्वां तत्रस्थाः प्रतीक्षन्ते सदोगताः

tadāgacchasva bhadraṃ te gacchāma divam uttamam brahmarṣayas tvāṃ tatrasthāḥ pratīkṣante sadogatāḥ

Verse 62

अहं महर्षयश् चैव तत्र त्वां वदतां वर विधिवच् चार्चयिष्यन्ति गीर्भिर् दिव्याभिर् अच्युत किं चाहं तव दास्यामि वरं वरभृतां वर सुरेष्व् अपि सदैत्येषु वराणां वरदो भवान्

ahaṃ maharṣayaś caiva tatra tvāṃ vadatāṃ vara vidhivac cārcayiṣyanti gīrbhir divyābhir acyuta kiṃ cāhaṃ tava dāsyāmi varaṃ varabhṛtāṃ vara sureṣv api sadaityeṣu varāṇāṃ varado bhavān

Verse 63

निर्यातयैतत् त्रैलोक्यं स्फीतं निहतकण्टकम् अस्मिन्न् एव मृधे विष्णो शक्राय सुमहात्मने

niryātayaitat trailokyaṃ sphītaṃ nihatakaṇṭakam asminn eva mṛdhe viṣṇo śakrāya sumahātmane

Verse 64

एवम् उक्तो भगवता ब्रह्मणा हरिर् ईश्वरः देवाञ् शक्रमुखान् सर्वान् उवाच शुभया गिरा

evam ukto bhagavatā brahmaṇā harir īśvaraḥ devāñ śakramukhān sarvān uvāca śubhayā girā

Verse 65

श्रूयतां त्रिदशाः सर्वे यावन्तः स्थ समागताः श्रवणावहितैर् देवैः पुरस्कृत्य पुरंदरम्

śrūyatāṃ tridaśāḥ sarve yāvantaḥ stha samāgatāḥ śravaṇāvahitair devaiḥ puraskṛtya puraṃdaram

Verse 66

अस्मिन् नः समरे सर्वे कालनेमिमुखा हताः दानवा विक्रमोपेताः शक्राद् अपि महत्तराः

asmin naḥ samare sarve kālanemimukhā hatāḥ dānavā vikramopetāḥ śakrād api mahattarāḥ

Verse 67

अस्मिन् महति संक्रन्दे द्वाव् एव तु विनिःसृतौ वैरोचनिश् च दैत्येन्द्रः स्वर्भानुश् च महाग्रहः

asmin mahati saṃkrande dvāv eva tu viniḥsṛtau vairocaniś ca daityendraḥ svarbhānuś ca mahāgrahaḥ

Verse 68

तद् इष्टां भजतां शक्रो दिशं वरुण एव च याम्यां यमः पालयताम् उत्तरां च धनाधिपः

tad iṣṭāṃ bhajatāṃ śakro diśaṃ varuṇa eva ca yāmyāṃ yamaḥ pālayatām uttarāṃ ca dhanādhipaḥ

Verse 69

ऋक्षैः सह यथायोगं कालं चरतु चन्द्रमाः अब्दं ह्य् ऋतुमुखं सूर्यो भजताम् अयनैः सह

ṛkṣaiḥ saha yathāyogaṃ kālaṃ caratu candramāḥ abdaṃ hy ṛtumukhaṃ sūryo bhajatām ayanaiḥ saha

Verse 70

आज्यभागाः प्रवर्तन्तां सदस्यैर् अभिपूजिताः हूयन्ताम् अग्नयो विप्रैर् वेददृष्टेन कर्मणा

ājyabhāgāḥ pravartantāṃ sadasyair abhipūjitāḥ hūyantām agnayo viprair vedadṛṣṭena karmaṇā

Verse 71

देवाश् च बलिहोमेन स्वाध्यायेन महर्षयः श्राद्धेन पितरश् चैव तृप्तिं यान्तु यथासुखम्

devāś ca balihomena svādhyāyena maharṣayaḥ śrāddhena pitaraś caiva tṛptiṃ yāntu yathāsukham

Verse 72

वायुश् चरतु मार्गस्थस् त्रिधा दीप्यतु पावकः त्रयो वर्णाश् च लोकांस् त्रींस् तर्पयन्त्व् आत्मजैर् गुणैः

vāyuś caratu mārgasthas tridhā dīpyatu pāvakaḥ trayo varṇāś ca lokāṃs trīṃs tarpayantv ātmajair guṇaiḥ

Verse 73

क्रतवः संप्रवर्तन्तां दीक्षणीयैर् द्विजातिभिः दक्षिणाश् चापि वर्तन्तां यथोक्तं सर्वसत्रिणाम्

kratavaḥ saṃpravartantāṃ dīkṣaṇīyair dvijātibhiḥ dakṣiṇāś cāpi vartantāṃ yathoktaṃ sarvasatriṇām

Verse 74

गाश् च सूर्यो रसान् सोमो वायुः प्राणांश् च प्राणिषु तर्पयन्तः प्रवर्तन्तां शिवैः सौम्यैश् च कर्मभिः

gāś ca sūryo rasān somo vāyuḥ prāṇāṃś ca prāṇiṣu tarpayantaḥ pravartantāṃ śivaiḥ saumyaiś ca karmabhiḥ

Verse 75

यथावद् अनुपूर्वेण महेन्द्र सलिलोद्वहाः त्रैलोक्यमातरः सर्वाः सागरं यान्तु निम्नगाः

yathāvad anupūrveṇa mahendra salilodvahāḥ trailokyamātaraḥ sarvāḥ sāgaraṃ yāntu nimnagāḥ

Verse 76

दैत्येभ्यस् त्यज्यतां भीतिः शान्तिं व्रजत देवताः स्वस्ति वो ऽस्तु गमिष्यामि ब्रह्मलोकं सनातनम्

daityebhyas tyajyatāṃ bhītiḥ śāntiṃ vrajata devatāḥ svasti vo 'stu gamiṣyāmi brahmalokaṃ sanātanam

Verse 77

स्वगृहे स्वर्गलोके वा संग्रामे वा विशेषतः विस्रम्भो वो न गन्तव्यो नित्यं क्षुद्रा हि दानवाः

svagṛhe svargaloke vā saṃgrāme vā viśeṣataḥ visrambho vo na gantavyo nityaṃ kṣudrā hi dānavāḥ

Verse 78

छिद्रेषु प्रहरन्त्य् एते न चैषां संस्थितिर् ध्रुवा सौम्यानाम् ऋजुभावानां भवतां चार्जवा मतिः

chidreṣu praharanty ete na caiṣāṃ saṃsthitir dhruvā saumyānām ṛjubhāvānāṃ bhavatāṃ cārjavā matiḥ

Verse 79

अहं तु दुष्टभावानां युष्मासु सुदुरात्मनाम् असम्यग् वर्तमानानां मोहं दास्यामि देवताः यदा च सुदुराधर्षं दानवेभ्यो भयं भवेत् तदा समुपगम्याशु विधास्ये वस् ततो ऽभयम् एवम् उक्त्वा सुरगणान् विष्णुः सत्यपराक्रमः जगाम ब्रह्मणा सार्धं ब्रह्मलोकं महायशाः

ahaṃ tu duṣṭabhāvānāṃ yuṣmāsu sudurātmanām asamyag vartamānānāṃ mohaṃ dāsyāmi devatāḥ yadā ca sudurādharṣaṃ dānavebhyo bhayaṃ bhavet tadā samupagamyāśu vidhāsye vas tato 'bhayam evam uktvā suragaṇān viṣṇuḥ satyaparākramaḥ jagāma brahmaṇā sārdhaṃ brahmalokaṃ mahāyaśāḥ

Verse 80

एतद् आश्चर्यम् अभवत् संग्रामे तारकामये दानवानां च विष्णोश् च यन् मां त्वं परिपृच्छसि

etad āścaryam abhavat saṃgrāme tārakāmaye dānavānāṃ ca viṣṇoś ca yan māṃ tvaṃ paripṛcchasi

This wonder occurred in the war of Tāraka, between the dānavas and Viṣṇu, that you have now asked me about.

Verse commentary

Viṣṇu Slays Kālanemi; the Five That Take Only Nārāyaṇa as Refuge

विष्णुना कालनेमि-वधः

Verses 1, 3, 8, 18, 20, 45, 50: the five — Veda, dharma, kṣamā, satya, Śrī — that did not go with Kālanemi because they take only Nārāyaṇa as their refuge; Kālanemi seeing Viṣṇu on Garuḍa brandishing the auspicious mace; Kālanemi's false accusation that Viṣṇu is *nir-ghṛṇa* in battle toward women and children; Kālanemi's own ironic recollection that the same Lord was formerly Padmanābha who slew Madhu and Kaiṭabha in the cosmic ocean; and the second recollection of Vāmana who strode the three worlds; Śrīdhara cutting Kālanemi's arms with the disc; and the sages and devas gathered together saying *sādhu sādhu* as they honored Vaikuṇṭha. Template commentary, pending Editorial Council review.

HV 38 is the reversal of HV 37. Kālanemi had seized the oceans, the throne, the praise; he had mimicked even the Lord's *kṛṣṇa-vapus*. But the chapter opens with a quiet theological stroke that undoes every one of those gains: *pañca taṃ nābhyavartanta* — five did not go with him. *Veda, dharma, kṣamā, satya, śrī* — scripture, dharma, forbearance, truth, and prosperity — because all five are *nārāyaṇa-āśrayā*, 'refuged in Nārāyaṇa'. The throne remained empty of what makes a throne a throne. Kālanemi then sees Viṣṇu astride Garuḍa (38.3) and — in a revealing projection — accuses Him of being *nir-ghṛṇa*, merciless to women and children (38.8). Kālanemi himself recalls the Lord's previous interventions: Padmanābha slaying Madhu-Kaiṭabha in the cosmic ocean (38.18), Vāmana striding the three worlds (38.20) — the accuser's own tongue confirms the avatāra-doctrine of Chapter 31. Viṣṇu then closes the contest: *ciccheda bāhūṃś cakreṇa śrīdharaḥ kālaneminaḥ* — 'Śrīdhara cut Kālanemi's arms with the disc' (38.45). Kālanemi falls; sages and devas say *sādhu sādhu* to Vaikuṇṭha (38.50). The Warkari reading: the external battle-work is almost a postscript. The real reversal happened in verse 1, when the five keepers-of-reality stayed home with Nārāyaṇa.

HV 38.1

पञ्च तं नाभ्यवर्तन्त विपरीतेन कर्मणा । वेदो धर्मः क्षमा सत्यं श्रीश् च नारायणाश्रया ॥

pañca taṃ nābhyavartanta viparītena karmaṇā | vedo dharmaḥ kṣamā satyaṃ śrīś ca nārāyaṇāśrayā

Five did not serve him, because of his perverse deeds: Veda, dharma, forbearance, truth, and Śrī — for these are refuged-in-Nārāyaṇa.

The Living Words

*Pañca taṃ nābhyavartanta*, 'five did not serve him'. *Viparītena karmaṇā*, 'because of perverse deeds'. *Vedo dharmaḥ kṣamā satyaṃ śrīḥ*, 'Veda, dharma, forbearance, truth, Śrī'. *Nārāyaṇāśrayāḥ*, 'refuged-in-Nārāyaṇa'.

The Heart of It

This is one of the most quoted verses of the Harivaṃśa. Five — *Veda, dharma, kṣamā, satya, Śrī* — are named as irrevocably *nārāyaṇa-āśrayā*. They cannot be transferred. A throne without these is just furniture. The Warkari reading is precise and liberating: a man may seize the oceans (HV 37.55) and the seat (HV 37.59), but he cannot seize *kṣamā*, *satya*, or *Śrī*. These follow only where Nārāyaṇa is named. Jñāneśvar's Haripāṭh Abhaṅga 21 *kṣamā-rūpa hari* — 'Hari in the form of forgiveness' — names HV 38.1's third item *as* the Lord. Tukārām's *satya viṭṭhala-pāyāṁ* — 'truth at Viṭṭhal's feet' — names the fourth. The verse is the whole Warkari ethic in one list: practice the five and you practice *nārāyaṇa-āśraya*; name the Lord and all five arrive unasked.

HV 38.3

स ददर्श सुपर्णस्थं शङ्खचक्रगदाधरम् । दानवानां विनाशाय भ्रामयन्तं गदां शुभाम् ॥

sa dadarśa suparṇa-sthaṃ śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-dharam | dānavānāṃ vināśāya bhrāmayantaṃ gadāṃ śubhām

He saw the conch-disc-and-mace bearer, standing on Suparṇa, brandishing the auspicious mace for the destruction of the dānavas.

The Living Words

*Suparṇa-stham*, 'standing on Suparṇa [Garuḍa]'. *Śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-dharam*, 'bearer of conch-disc-and-mace'. *Dānavānāṃ vināśāya*, 'for the destruction of the dānavas'. *Bhrāmayantaṃ gadāṃ śubhām*, 'brandishing the auspicious mace'.

The Heart of It

The verse names the classical Vaiṣṇava iconography line by line: *suparṇa-stha* (on Garuḍa), *śaṅkha-cakra-gadā-dhara*, *gadā śubhā* (the auspicious mace). Kālanemi, who had mimicked the *kṛṣṇa-vapus* in 37.40, now sees the *real* dark-bodied Lord with the identifying signs. The Warkari reading notes the phrase *gadāṃ śubhām* — 'the auspicious mace'. *Śubha* is an inner quality, not an outer metal. The demon's mace was laughed, loud-hammered; the Lord's is *śubhā* — a blessing-weapon. Jñāneśvar's Haripāṭh Abhaṅga 19 *nāma śastra śubhānana* — 'the Name the auspicious-faced weapon' — carries HV 38.3 into Marathi. The same instrument can be *ghora* or *śubha*; the difference is the user's heart, and the user's heart is revealed by the Garuḍa they stand on.

HV 38.8

अयं स निर्घृणो युद्धे स्त्रीबालनिरपत्रपः । येन दानवनारीणां सीमन्तोद्धरणं कृतम् ॥

ayaṃ sa nir-ghṛṇo yuddhe strī-bāla-nirapatrapaḥ | yena dānava-nārīṇāṃ sīmantoddharaṇaṃ kṛtam

'This is the one pitiless in battle, shameless toward women and children, by whom the parting-line of the dānava-wives has been removed.'

The Living Words

*Nir-ghṛṇaḥ yuddhe*, 'pitiless in battle'. *Strī-bāla-nirapatrapaḥ*, 'shameless toward women and children'. *Dānava-nārīṇāṃ sīmantoddharaṇaṃ kṛtam*, 'caused the parting-line of the dānava-wives to be erased [widowed them]'.

The Heart of It

Kālanemi's accusation: the Lord is *nir-ghṛṇa*, 'pitiless', and *strī-bāla-nirapatrapaḥ*, 'shameless toward women and children'. The phrase *sīmantoddharaṇa* — 'the undoing of the hair-parting' — is the widow's standard iconography. The Warkari reading is honest: from inside the demonic worldview, the Lord *does* look this way. The just war looks, to the unjust side, as an unjust act. Jñāneśvar's Haripāṭh Abhaṅga 22 *para-doṣa-pātra na hoī* — 'do not become the vessel of another's fault' — is the devotee's corresponding discipline: the saint does not project *his own* pitilessness onto the Lord. HV 38.8's accusation is psychologically diagnostic — *Kālanemi is describing Kālanemi*. The one who had struck Yama with mṛtyu-praharaṇa (37.50) is now calling Viṣṇu pitiless. The Warkari's first discipline: check the pointing finger.

HV 38.18

एषो ऽन्तकः पुरा भूत्वा पद्मनाभ इति स्मृतः । जघानैकार्णवे घोरे ताव् उभौ मधुकैटभौ ॥

eṣo 'ntakaḥ purā bhūtvā padma-nābha iti smṛtaḥ | jaghānaikārṇave ghore tāv ubhau madhu-kaiṭabhau

'This one, having been of old *the ender*, remembered as Padmanābha — in the terrible one-ocean he slew those two, Madhu and Kaiṭabha.'

The Living Words

*Antakaḥ purā bhūtvā*, 'having been of old the ender'. *Padma-nābha iti smṛtaḥ*, 'remembered as Padmanābha'. *Jaghānaikārṇave ghore*, 'slew in the terrible one-ocean'. *Tāv ubhau madhu-kaiṭabhau*, 'those two, Madhu and Kaiṭabha'.

The Heart of It

The Harivaṃśa's quiet art: the very mouth that is tauntingly trying to *belittle* Viṣṇu ends up *reciting his avatāras*. Kālanemi names Him *Padmanābha, slayer of Madhu-Kaiṭabha* — which is precisely HV 31.18's avatāra-hymn spoken now by the enemy. The Warkari reading enjoys this: even the tongue of resistance rehearses the Name. Jñāneśvar's own confidence — that the Name, once named even in anger, does its work — has HV 38.18 as its Sanskrit confirmation. Tukārām's *tūñ maj ghāta śarīrāche suddhā vairī gurū-pāsa nāma-smaraṇā yetāṁ* — 'even to my enemy from the Guru the Name comes out' — walks this same line. The recitation doesn't need the speaker's agreement to be recitation.

HV 38.20

शुभं गर्भम् अधत्तैनम् अदितिर् देवतारणिः । यज्ञकाले बलेर् यो वै कृत्वा वामनरूपताम् । त्रींल् लोकांश् च जहारैष क्रममाणस् त्रिभिः क्रमैः ॥

śubhaṃ garbham adhattainam aditir devatā-raṇiḥ | yajña-kāle baler yo vai kṛtvā vāmana-rūpatām | trīṃl lokāṃś ca jahāraiṣa kramamāṇas tribhiḥ kramaiḥ

'Aditi, the kindling-stick of the devas, conceived him as the auspicious embryo; at Bali's yajña, having become Vāmana, this one carried off the three worlds, striding with three strides.'

The Living Words

*Śubhaṃ garbham adhatta*, 'conceived the auspicious embryo'. *Aditir devatā-raṇiḥ*, 'Aditi, kindling-stick of the devas'. *Yajña-kāle baleḥ*, 'at Bali's yajña-time'. *Kṛtvā vāmana-rūpatām*, 'having become Vāmana'. *Trīn lokāṃś ca jahāra eṣa*, 'carried off the three worlds'. *Kramamāṇas tribhiḥ kramaiḥ*, 'striding with three strides'.

The Heart of It

A second avatāra-recollection, again from the demon's mouth: Vāmana, the three-striding, the seizer of three worlds at Bali's yajña. The Warkari reading: Kālanemi has just accused Viṣṇu of taking what isn't his (HV 38.8) — and in the next breath he himself recalls the Vāmana episode, where Viṣṇu took *the three worlds themselves*. The accusation and the admission stand in the same speech. The Lord's *kramaṇa* — 'striding' — is not theft; it is *restoration*: the worlds were wrongly held by Bali, and the Lord steps through them for the worlds' own sake. Jñāneśvar's Haripāṭh Abhaṅga 24 *tīn-pāyāṁ-trailokya-dhāraka* — 'three-step-upholder of the three worlds' — honors exactly this *kramaṇa*. Kālanemi's mocking review is, for the listener, a free recital of the avatāra-creed.

HV 38.45

संमुष्णन् दानवं तेजः समरे स्वेन तेजसा । चिच्छेद बाहूंश् चक्रेण श्रीधरः कालनेमिनः ॥

saṃ-muṣṇan dānavaṃ tejaḥ samare svena tejasā | ciccheda bāhūṃś cakreṇa śrī-dharaḥ kāla-neminaḥ

Stealing away the dānava's splendor with His own splendor in the combat, Śrīdhara cut Kālanemi's arms with the disc.

The Living Words

*Saṃ-muṣṇan dānavaṃ tejaḥ*, 'stealing away the dānava's splendor'. *Svena tejasā*, 'with His own splendor'. *Ciccheda bāhūn cakreṇa*, 'cut the arms with the disc'. *Śrī-dharaḥ kāla-neminaḥ*, '[of] Śrī-bearer, [of] Kālanemi'.

The Heart of It

The Lord's victory is not through superior force alone but through *saṃ-muṣṇan tejaḥ* — 'stealing the splendor away'. Kālanemi's own brilliance was asuric-borrowed (the Aurva fire of HV 35.18); the Lord repossesses it. Then the arms are cut. The *arms* are significant: HV 37.40 had described these as cosmic, growing in all directions, like cobras. The arms that *over-reached* are cut. The Warkari reading: what the Name does internally is *saṃ-muṣṇan ahaṅkāra-tejaḥ* — 'stealing away the ego's own splendor'. Once that splendor is gone, the arms — reach, grasp, ambition — fall off by themselves. Jñāneśvar's Haripāṭh Abhaṅga 18 *ahaṅkāra-hara hari* — 'Hari, remover of ego' — is HV 38.45's inner form. And the title *Śrī-dhara* is perfect here: the Lord is *the bearer of Śrī*, the fifth of the *pañca-nārāyaṇāśrayāḥ* of 38.1. Śrī went with Viṣṇu; Kālanemi's arms come off.

HV 38.50

तस्मिन् निपतिते दैत्ये देवाः सर्षिगणास् तदा । साधु साध्व् इति वैकुण्ठं समेताः प्रत्यपूजयन् ॥

tasmin nipatite daitye devāḥ sarṣi-gaṇās tadā | sādhu sādhv iti vaikuṇṭhaṃ sametāḥ pratyapūjayan

When that daitya had fallen, the devas, together with the throngs of ṛṣis, saying 'Well done, well done' — assembled — honored Vaikuṇṭha.

The Living Words

*Tasmin nipatite daitye*, 'when that daitya had fallen'. *Devāḥ sarṣi-gaṇāḥ*, 'the devas with the ṛṣi-hosts'. *Sādhu sādhv iti*, 'well-done, well-done'. *Vaikuṇṭhaṃ sametāḥ pratyapūjayan*, 'together, they worshipped Vaikuṇṭha in return'.

The Heart of It

The chapter closes with the same kind of acclamation that HV 37.59 gave to Kālanemi — except now the honoring goes, rightly, to Vaikuṇṭha. The inversion is complete and instructive: the *pārameṣṭhya-sthāna* was never really about who sat on it but about whom it was meant to house. The Warkari reading finds the two-word refrain especially precious: *sādhu sādhu*. This is the same *sādhu* that is the Warkari's daily title for the realized devotee. Jñāneśvar's Haripāṭh Abhaṅga 27 *sādhuṁsaṅgē hari-nāma* — 'in the company of sādhus, the Hari-name' — opens from here. The devas and ṛṣis *together* say *sādhu sādhu* — the word for a saint is spoken first by gods for the Lord, then by saints for each other. The chapter's ending is not merely a victory-scene; it is the establishment of a vocabulary: what is *sādhu* is what stays with Nārāyaṇa.

Thread

HV 38 reverses HV 37 in six strokes. The opening verse (38.1) names the five that never went with Kālanemi in the first place, because they are *nārāyaṇa-āśrayāḥ*. The accuser's mouth rehearses the avatāra-creed (38.18, 38.20). The Lord's weapon is not merely a disc but a *śubhā-gadā* — 'the auspicious mace' (38.3). The victory is by *saṃ-muṣṇan tejaḥ* — the Lord *takes back* what was borrowed, not forged-against (38.45). The chapter closes with *sādhu sādhu* from devas and sages together, establishing the vocabulary of sainthood. The Warkari reading uses the whole chapter as proof that the throne-and-body of HV 37 were never the real battle; the real battle was won in advance by the *five keepers* who would not go with pride.

Echo in the saints

The Warkari *pañca-nārāyaṇāśraya* of HV 38.1 — Veda, dharma, kṣamā, satya, Śrī — is the same *pañca* invoked by Tukārām in *sādhu-santānchē daraśana* — 'the seeing of sādhus': wherever these five gather, there is the Lord. Jñāneśvar's *kṣamā-rūpa hari* turns kṣamā into a synonym for the Lord Himself. And the closing *sādhu sādhu* of 38.50 is the word spoken daily in the Warkari dindī — not about a victory, but about a devotee. The vocabulary flows from HV 38 into the Haripāṭh without translation.

Scripture references

DirectBhagavad Gītā 9.17–18

Dharma, truth, and Śrī's refuge-in-Nārāyaṇa is the Gītā's own declaration in narrative form.

पिताहम् अस्य जगतो माता धाता पितामहः । वेद्यं पवित्रम् ओंकार ऋक् साम यजुर् एव च ॥ गतिर् भर्ता प्रभुः साक्षी निवासः शरणं सुहृत् ।

pitāham asya jagato mātā dhātā pitāmahaḥ | vedyaṃ pavitram oṃkāra ṛk sāma yajur eva ca || gatir bhartā prabhuḥ sākṣī nivāsaḥ śaraṇaṃ su-hṛt

I am the father of this world, the mother, establisher, grandfather; the to-be-known, the purifier, the syllable OM; the Ṛk, Sāma and Yajus verses; the way, bearer, lord, witness, abode, shelter, and friend.

HV 38.1's *veda, dharma, kṣamā, satya, śrī — nārāyaṇa-āśrayāḥ* is Gītā 9.17–18 in pañcaka form. The Warkari tradition reads them together: the Lord is named there in his cosmic-functional roles; HV 38 names the five roles that refuse to leave him even when cosmos seems to.

EchoesBhagavad Gītā 4.8

The disc that cuts the over-reaching arm is the Lord's standing promise to the devotee.

परित्राणाय साधूनां विनाशाय च दुष्कृताम् । धर्मसंस्थापनार्थाय सम्भवामि युगे युगे ॥

paritrāṇāya sādhūnāṃ vināśāya ca duṣkṛtām | dharma-saṃsthāpan-ārthāya sambhavāmi yuge yuge

For the protection of the good, for the destruction of evil-doers, for the establishment of dharma — I come into being, age after age.

HV 38.45's *ciccheda bāhūṃś cakreṇa śrī-dharaḥ* and 38.50's *sādhu sādhv iti vaikuṇṭhaṃ pratyapūjayan* are Gītā 4.8 enacted: the *vināśa* of duṣkṛts, the *paritrāṇa* of sādhus. The closing *sādhu sādhu* of HV 38 is the Gītā's *sādhūnām* made plural-ecstatic.

BORI critical edition, ed. P. L. Vaidya (1969). Digital text from the GRETIL Zurich constituted text. Distributed under CC BY-NC-SA 4.0.