Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 37

Deva–Asura Battle after the Nectar; Bali’s Illusions and Hari’s Intervention

Devanagari script

गजास्तुरङ्गा: सरथा: पदातय: सारोहवाहा विविधा विखण्डिता: । निकृत्तबाहूरुशिरोधराङ्‍‍घ्रय- श्छिन्नध्वजेष्वासतनुत्रभूषणा: ॥ ३७ ॥

Transliteration

gajās turaṅgāḥ sarathāḥ padātayaḥ sāroha-vāhā vividhā vikhaṇḍitāḥ nikṛtta-bāhūru-śirodharāṅghrayaś chinna-dhvajeṣvāsa-tanutra-bhūṣaṇāḥ

Translation

The elephants, horses, chariots, charioteers, infantry soldiers and various kinds of carriers, along with their riders, were slashed to pieces. The arms, thighs, necks and legs of the soldiers were severed, and their flags, bows, armor and ornaments were torn apart.

Synonyms

• गजाः: elephants
• गजाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• तुरङ्गाः: horses
• तुरङ्गाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तुरङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• सरथाः: (those) with chariots / charioteers
• सरथाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स + रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; अव्ययीभाव: ‘सहिताः रथैः/रथयुक्ताः’ = ‘with chariots / chariot-borne’

• पदातयः: foot-soldiers
• पदातयः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पदाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• सारोहवाहाः: mounts with riders
• सारोहवाहाः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स + आरोह + वाह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; अव्ययीभाव: ‘सहिताः आरोहैः’ (mounted riders) + ‘वाहाः’ (carriers/vehicles) → ‘mounts with riders’

• विविधाः: various
• विविधाः: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विविध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषण (adjective)

• विखण्डिताः: shattered
• विखण्डिताः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-√खण्ड् (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (Past Passive Participle/क्त), प्रथमा, बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; ‘broken to pieces’

• निकृत्तबाहूरुशिरोधराङ्घ्रयः: having arms, thighs, necks and feet cut off
• निकृत्तबाहूरुशिरोधराङ्घ्रयः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: नि-√कृत् (धातु) + बाहु + ऊरु + शिरोधर + अङ्घ्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि: ‘येषां बाहवः ऊरवः शिरोधराः अङ्घ्रयश्च निकृत्ताः’ = ‘whose arms, thighs, necks, and feet were cut off’

• छिन्नध्वजेष्वासतनुत्रभूषणाः: with banners cut and weapons/armor/ornaments damaged
• छिन्नध्वजेष्वासतनुत्रभूषणाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: छिन्न (√छिद्) + ध्वज + इष्वास + तनुत्र + भूषण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि: ‘येषां ध्वजाः (पताकाः) छिन्नाः, इष्वास-तनुत्र-भूषणानि (धनुष्-बाण-त्राण-आभरणानि) (विक्षिप्त/नष्ट) इति’—युद्धोपकरण-नाशसूचक विशेषण

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam 8.10.37 describe?

It vividly portrays the battlefield in the Deva–Asura war—elephants, horses, chariots, and soldiers broken apart, with severed limbs and shattered flags, weapons, armor, and ornaments strewn across the ground.

Who is speaking this verse in Bhagavatam Canto 8 Chapter 10?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī is narrating these events to Mahārāja Parīkṣit as part of the account of the demigods and demons fighting after the churning of the ocean.

What is the practical lesson for modern life from this battlefield verse?

Material power and victory in conflict are fragile and quickly reduced to ruin; the verse urges sobriety—seeking lasting shelter in dharma and devotion rather than pride in strength, possessions, or dominance.