Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 4
Dhruva Uses the Nārāyaṇāstra; Manu Checks His Wrath and Teaches Dharma
तैस्तिग्मधारै: प्रधने शिलीमुखै- रितस्तत: पुण्यजना उपद्रुता: । तमभ्यधावन् कुपिता उदायुधा: सुपर्णमुन्नद्धफणा इवाहय: ॥ ४ ॥
tais tigma-dhāraiḥ pradhane śilī-mukhair itas tataḥ puṇya-janā upadrutāḥ tam abhyadhāvan kupitā udāyudhāḥ suparṇam unnaddha-phaṇā ivāhayaḥ
Those sharp arrows dismayed the enemy soldiers, who became almost unconscious, but various Yakṣas on the battlefield, in a rage against Dhruva Mahārāja, somehow or other collected their weapons and attacked. Just as serpents agitated by Garuḍa rush towards Garuḍa with upraised hoods, all the Yakṣa soldiers prepared to overcome Dhruva Mahārāja with their upraised weapons.
FAQs
In this verse, ‘puṇyajana’ refers to the Yakṣas—celestial attendants associated with Kuvera—who, though exalted beings, became disturbed and aggressive when attacked in battle.
Because Dhruva’s sharp arrows struck them from all sides in the fight, the Yakṣas felt harassed and, in anger, charged him to retaliate.
It shows how injury and fear quickly ignite anger and escalation; a devotee should seek restraint and higher guidance rather than being swept away by retaliatory impulses.