Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 33
Deva–Asura Battle after the Nectar; Bali’s Illusions and Hari’s Intervention
वृषाकपिस्तु जम्भेन महिषेण विभावसु: । इल्वल: सह वातापिर्ब्रह्मपुत्रैररिन्दम ॥ ३२ ॥ कामदेवेन दुर्मर्ष उत्कलो मातृभि: सह । बृहस्पतिश्चोशनसा नरकेण शनैश्चर: ॥ ३३ ॥ मरुतो निवातकवचै: कालेयैर्वसवोऽमरा: । विश्वेदेवास्तु पौलोमै रुद्रा: क्रोधवशै: सह ॥ ३४ ॥
vṛṣākapis tu jambhena mahiṣeṇa vibhāvasuḥ ilvalaḥ saha vātāpir brahma-putrair arindama
O Mahārāja Parīkṣit, suppressor of enemies [Arindama], Lord Śiva fought with Jambha, and Vibhāvasu fought with Mahiṣāsura. Ilvala, along with his brother Vātāpi, fought the sons of Lord Brahmā. Durmarṣa fought with Cupid, the demon Utkala with the Mātṛkā demigoddesses, Bṛhaspati with Śukrācārya, and Śanaiścara [Saturn] with Narakāsura. The Maruts fought Nivātakavaca, the Vasus fought the Kālakeya demons, the Viśvedeva demigods fought the Pauloma demons, and the Rudras fought the Krodhavaśa demons, who were victims of anger.
FAQs
The verse lists matchups: Vṛṣākapi fought Jambha, Vibhāvasu fought Mahiṣa, and Ilvala with Vātāpi fought the sons of Brahmā.
He is mapping the battlefield for Parīkṣit—showing how the cosmic conflict unfolds through specific pairings of devas and asuras.
They remind a seeker that life involves struggle between dharma and adharma, and one should consciously side with dharma through discipline, prayer, and devotion.