Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 3.17.27
तत्रोपलभ्यासुरलोकपालकं
यादोगणानामृषभं प्रचेतसम् ।
स्मयन् प्रलब्धुं प्रणिपत्य नीचव-
ज्जगाद मे देह्यधिराज संयुगम ॥ २७ ॥
tatropalabhyāsura-loka-pālakaṁ
[tatropalabhyaasura-loka-paalakam]
yādo-gaṇānām ṛṣabhaṁ pracetasam
[yaado-ganaanaam rishabham prachetasam]
smayan pralabdhuṁ praṇipatya nīcavaj
[smayan pralabdhum pranipatya neechavaj]
jagāda me dehy adhirāja saṁyugam
[jagaada me dehy adhiraaja samyugam]
Word-for-word
tatra
—
there
upalabhya
—
having reached
asura-loka
—
of the regions where the demons reside
pālakam
—
the guardian
yādaḥ-gaṇānām
—
of the aquatic creatures
ṛṣabham
—
the lord
pracetasam
—
Varuṇa
smayan
—
smiling
pralabdhum
—
to make fun
praṇipatya
—
having bowed down
nīca-vat
—
like a lowborn man
jagāda
—
he said
me
—
to me
dehi
—
give
adhirāja
—
O great lord
saṁyugam
—
battle.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
tatropalabhyāsura-loka-pālakaṁ
tatra
there
upalabhya
having reached
asura-loka
of the regions where the demons reside
pālakam
the guardian
yādo-gaṇānām ṛṣabhaṁ pracetasam
yādaḥ-gaṇānām
of the aquatic creatures
ṛṣabham
the lord
pracetasam
Varuṇa
smayan pralabdhuṁ praṇipatya nīcavaj
smayan
smiling
pralabdhum
to make fun
praṇipatya
having bowed down
nīca-vat
like a lowborn man
jagāda me dehy adhirāja saṁyugam
jagāda
he said
me
to me
dehi
give
adhirāja
O great lord
saṁyugam
battle.
Vibhāvarī is the home of Varuṇa, lord of the aquatic creatures and guardian of the lower regions of the universe, where the demons generally reside. There Hiraṇyākṣa fell at Varuṇa’s feet like a lowborn man, and to make fun of him he said with a smile, “Give me battle, O Supreme Lord!”
Purport
The demoniac person always challenges others and tries to occupy others’ property by force. Here these symptoms are fully displayed by Hiraṇyākṣa, who begged war from a person who had no desire to fight.
— A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
Having reached Varuṇa, the protector of Pātāla-loka, the king of the aquatics, Hiraṇyākṣa bowed down low before him in jest, and said with a smile, “O king! Give me a fight!”
Varuṇa is the protector of Pātāla-loka (asura-loka). Hiranyākṣa bowed down to make fun of Varuṇa.
Personal Guidance
The verse describes layered cosmic machinery — modes, elements, governing demigods — to remind us that even our 'private' lives are arranged by larger hands.
Reflection Questions
- Where have you been demanding outcomes from a system you did not design?
- How could awe of the creation become a daily practice and not just a Sunday feeling?
My note
Source: vedabase.io