Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 23
Deva–Asura Battle after the Nectar; Bali’s Illusions and Hari’s Intervention
तस्यासन्सर्वतो यानैर्यूथानां पतयोऽसुरा: । नमुचि: शम्बरो बाणो विप्रचित्तिरयोमुख: ॥ १९ ॥ द्विमूर्धा कालनाभोऽथ प्रहेतिर्हेतिरिल्वल: । शकुनिर्भूतसन्तापो वज्रदंष्ट्रो विरोचन: ॥ २० ॥ हयग्रीव: शङ्कुशिरा: कपिलो मेघदुन्दुभि: । तारकश्चक्रदृक् शुम्भो निशुम्भो जम्भ उत्कल: ॥ २१ ॥ अरिष्टोऽरिष्टनेमिश्च मयश्च त्रिपुराधिप: । अन्ये पौलोमकालेया निवातकवचादय: ॥ २२ ॥ अलब्धभागा: सोमस्य केवलं क्लेशभागिन: । सर्व एते रणमुखे बहुशो निर्जितामरा: ॥ २३ ॥ सिंहनादान्विमुञ्चन्त: शङ्खान्दध्मुर्महारवान् । दृष्ट्वा सपत्नानुत्सिक्तान्बलभित् कुपितो भृशम् ॥ २४ ॥
tasyāsan sarvato yānair yūthānāṁ patayo ’surāḥ namuciḥ śambaro bāṇo vipracittir ayomukhaḥ
Surrounding Mahārāja Bali on all sides were the commanders and captains of the demons, sitting on their respective chariots. Among them were the following demons: Namuci, Śambara, Bāṇa, Vipracitti, Ayomukha, Dvimūrdhā, Kālanābha, Praheti, Heti, Ilvala, Śakuni, Bhūtasantāpa, Vajradaṁṣṭra, Virocana, Hayagrīva, Śaṅkuśirā, Kapila, Meghadundubhi, Tāraka, Cakradṛk, Śumbha, Niśumbha, Jambha, Utkala, Ariṣṭa, Ariṣṭanemi, Tripurādhipa, Maya, the sons of Puloma, the Kāleyas and Nivātakavaca. All of these demons had been deprived of their share of the nectar and had shared merely in the labor of churning the ocean. Now, they fought against the demigods, and to encourage their armies, they made a tumultuous sound like the roaring of lions and blew loudly on conchshells. Balabhit, Lord Indra, upon seeing this situation of his ferocious rivals, became extremely angry.
FAQs
In this verse, Śukadeva lists prominent asura commanders—Namuci, Śambara, Bāṇa, Vipracitti, and Ayomukha—who surround Indra from all sides, indicating the organized might of the demonic armies.
The narrative is setting the battlefield: by naming the commanders, the Bhāgavatam shows the scale of the confrontation and the concentrated opposition faced by Indra and the devas.
When challenges feel “surrounding,” remember that adversity can come in many forms; steadiness, right allies, and divine shelter are essential when pressures gather from all directions.