Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 57
Deva–Asura Battle after the Nectar; Bali’s Illusions and Hari’s Intervention
माली सुमाल्यतिबलौ युधि पेततुर्य च्चक्रेण कृत्तशिरसावथ माल्यवांस्तम् । आहत्य तिग्मगदयाहनदण्डजेन्द्र तावच्छिरोऽच्छिनदरेर्नदतोऽरिणाद्य: ॥ ५७ ॥
mālī sumāly atibalau yudhi petatur yac- cakreṇa kṛtta-śirasāv atha mālyavāṁs tam āhatya tigma-gadayāhanad aṇḍajendraṁ tāvac chiro ’cchinad arer nadato ’riṇādyaḥ
Thereafter, two very powerful demons named Mālī and Sumālī were killed by the Supreme Lord, who severed their heads with His disc. Then Mālyavān, another demon, attacked the Lord. With his sharp club, the demon, who was roaring like a lion, attacked Garuḍa, the lord of the birds, who are born from eggs. But the Supreme Personality of Godhead, the original person, used His disc to cut off the head of that enemy also.
Thus end the Bhaktivedanta purports of the Eighth Canto, Tenth Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “The Battle Between the Demigods and the Demons.”
FAQs
This verse shows the Lord’s Sudarśana Cakra decisively defeating powerful asuras by severing their heads, emphasizing His unmatched sovereignty and protection of dharma.
Mālyavān attacked the Lord’s side (Indra’s carrier, the king of elephants) and roared in defiance; the Lord immediately ended the threat, demonstrating swift divine justice in the deva-asura conflict.
Stand with dharma and remain steady in devotion; the Bhagavatam teaches that arrogance and aggression against righteousness ultimately fail, while sincere alignment with the Lord’s order is protected.