Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 15

Brahmā Worships Vāmana; the Demons Attack; Bali is Bound and Questioned About the Third Step

Devanagari script

तानभिद्रवतो द‍ृष्ट्वा दितिजानीकपान् नृप । प्रहस्यानुचरा विष्णो: प्रत्यषेधन्नुदायुधा: ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

tān abhidravato dṛṣṭvā ditijānīkapān nṛpa prahasyānucarā viṣṇoḥ pratyaṣedhann udāyudhāḥ

Translation

O King, when the associates of Lord Viṣṇu saw the soldiers of the demons coming forward in violence, they smiled. Taking up their weapons, they forbade the demons to continue their attempt.

Synonyms

• तान्: them
• तान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• अभिद्रवतः: rushing (to attack)
• अभिद्रवतः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-√द्रु (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ/शानच्-प्रत्यय), परस्मैपदी; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; ‘अभिद्रवत्’ = running towards/attacking

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), ‘having seen’

• दितिज-अनीकपान्: the leaders of the Daitya army
• दितिज-अनीकपान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दितिज (प्रातिपदिक) + अनीकप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष समास (दितिजानाम् अनीकपाः); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• नृप: O king
• नृप: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नृप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रहस्य: having laughed
• प्रहस्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-√हस् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (absolutive/gerund), ‘having laughed’

• अनुचराः: attendants
• अनुचराः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुचर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• विष्णोः: of Viṣṇu
• विष्णोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विष्णु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• प्रत्यषेधन्: they warded off / restrained
• प्रत्यषेधन्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्रति-√षिध् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (imperfect/past), परस्मैपद; प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन

• उदायुधाः: with weapons raised
• उदायुधाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद् (उपसर्ग) + आयुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि समास (उद्गतानि आयुधानि येषाम्); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; विशेषणम् ‘अनुचराः’

Characters & Entities

• Viṣṇu
• Daityas (sons of Diti)
• Viṣṇu’s attendants (Viṣṇu-parṣadas)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Lord Vishnu’s protection during battles with demons?

This verse shows Viṣṇu’s own attendants confidently repelling the Daityas, illustrating that divine protection operates through the Lord’s empowered associates to uphold dharma.

Why did Vishnu’s attendants laugh when the Daityas charged?

Their laughter reflects fearlessness born of shelter in Viṣṇu—knowing the demons’ aggression cannot prevail against the Lord’s order and protection.

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

Face adversity with steadiness and faith: take shelter of the Lord, act decisively in one’s duty, and resist harmful influences without panic.