Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 31

Bali Mahārāja Upholds Truth; Vāmana Reveals the Universal Form and Takes the Two Steps

Devanagari script

पर्जन्यघोषो जलज: पाञ्चजन्य: कौमोदकी विष्णुगदा तरस्विनी । विद्याधरोऽसि: शतचन्द्रयुक्त- स्तूणोत्तमावक्षयसायकौ च ॥ ३१ ॥

Transliteration

parjanya-ghoṣo jalajaḥ pāñcajanyaḥ kaumodakī viṣṇu-gadā tarasvinī vidyādharo ’siḥ śata-candra-yuktas tūṇottamāv akṣayasāyakau ca

Translation

The Lord’s conchshell, named Pāñcajanya, which made sounds like that of a cloud; the very forceful club named Kaumodakī; the sword named Vidyādhara, with a shield decorated with hundreds of moonlike spots; and also Akṣayasāyaka, the best of quivers — all of these appeared together to offer prayers to the Lord.

Synonyms

• parjanya-ghoṣaḥ: Parjanya-ghoṣa (a conch)
• parjanya-ghoṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parjanya (प्रातिपदिक) + ghoṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; name of a conch; tatpuruṣa: 'cloud/thunder sound'

• jalajaḥ: Jalaja (a conch)
• jalajaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jalaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; 'water-born'

• pāñcajanyaḥ: Pāñcajanya (conch)
• pāñcajanyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāñcajanya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; name of Viṣṇu's conch

• kaumodakī: Kaumodakī (mace)
• kaumodakī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaumodakī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; name of Viṣṇu's mace

• viṣṇu-gadā: Viṣṇu's mace
• viṣṇu-gadā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: viṣṇu (प्रातिपदिक) + gadā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; tatpuruṣa: 'Viṣṇu's mace'

• tarasvinī: powerful
• tarasvinī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tarasvinī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; qualifying gadā

• vidyādharaḥ: Vidyādhara (sword)
• vidyādharaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vidyādhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; name of a sword

• asiḥ: sword
• asiḥ: Apposition (समनाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• śata-candra-yuktaḥ: adorned with a hundred moon(-like) marks
• śata-candra-yuktaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śata (प्रातिपदिक) + candra (प्रातिपदिक) + yukta (कृदन्त)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; tatpuruṣa: 'joined with a hundred moons' qualifying tūṇaḥ (quiver)

• tūṇottamau: two excellent quivers
• tūṇottamau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tūṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + uttama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual (द्विवचन); karmadhāraya: 'excellent quivers'

• akṣaya-sāyakau: two inexhaustible arrow-(stores)
• akṣaya-sāyakau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: akṣaya (प्रातिपदिक) + sāyaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Dual; karmadhāraya: 'inexhaustible arrows' (as a pair)

• ca: and
• ca: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

Characters & Entities

• Lord Viṣṇu
• Pāñcajanya
• Kaumodakī

FAQs

What is the meaning of Pāñcajanya conch in the Srimad Bhagavatam?

This verse describes Pāñcajanya as Viṣṇu’s aquatic-born conch, whose sound is compared to thunder—signifying divine command, protection, and victory over opposing forces.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe Viṣṇu’s weapons in Bhagavatam 8.20?

He narrates the battle setting by detailing the Lord’s divine armaments—showing that the Supreme’s power and protection are complete, and that victory ultimately rests with Him.

How can devotees apply the lesson of this shloka in modern life?

Remembering the Lord’s protective potency (symbolized by His weapons) strengthens faith and steadiness when facing conflict, fear, or adversity, encouraging reliance on dharma and devotion.