Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 32

Paugaṇḍa Cowherding, Tālavana, the Slaying of Dhenukāsura, and Revival from Poisoned Yamunā Water

Devanagari script

स तं गृहीत्वा प्रपदोर्भ्रामयित्वैकपाणिना । चिक्षेप तृणराजाग्रे भ्रामणत्यक्तजीवितम् ॥ ३२ ॥

Transliteration

sa taṁ gṛhītvā prapador bhrāmayitvaika-pāṇinā cikṣepa tṛṇa-rājāgre bhrāmaṇa-tyakta-jīvitam

Translation

Lord Balarāma seized Dhenuka by his hooves, whirled him about with one hand and threw him into the top of a palm tree. The violent wheeling motion killed the demon.

Synonyms

• सः: he (Balarāma)
• सः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन — he

• तम्: him (the demon)
• तम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — him

• गृहीत्वा: having seized
• गृहीत्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु) → गृहीत्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund) — having seized

• प्रपदोः: of (his) forefeet
• प्रपदोः: अपादान/सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation; of what was seized)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रपद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), द्विवचन — of the forefeet

• भ्रामयित्वा: having whirled
• भ्रामयित्वा: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भ्रम् (धातु) → भ्रामयित् (णिच् causative) → भ्रामयित्वा (क्त्वा)
• Form: णिच्-प्रेरणार्थ (Causative) + क्त्वान्त अव्यय — having whirled (made to whirl)

• एक-पाणिना: with one hand
• एक-पाणिना: करण (Karana/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या) + पाणि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारय/द्विगु-भाव: एकः पाणिः यस्य/एकेन पाणिना); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — with one hand

• चिक्षेप: threw
• चिक्षेप: क्रिया (Main action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षिप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन — hurled/threw

• तृण-राज-अग्रे: before the Tṛṇarāja tree
• तृण-राज-अग्रे: अधिकरण (Adhikarana/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तृण (प्रातिपदिक) + राज (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: तृणराजस्य अग्रे); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (7th/Locative), एकवचन — in front of Tṛṇarāja (a palm tree)

• भ्रामण-त्यक्त-जीवितम्: lifeless (having lost life from being whirled)
• भ्रामण-त्यक्त-जीवितम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Qualifies object ‘tam’)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भ्रामण (प्रातिपदिक; from भ्रम्-णिच् ‘whirling’) + त्यक्त (क्त-प्रत्यय; त्यज् धातु) + जीवित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (कर्मधारय/बहुपद: भ्रामणेन त्यक्तं जीवितं यस्य/यत्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (तम्) विशेषण — life abandoned due to whirling (lifeless)

Characters & Entities

• Lord Balarāma
• Dhenukāsura

FAQs

How did Balarama kill Dhenukasura in Srimad Bhagavatam?

This verse says Balarāma grabbed Dhenukāsura by the hooves, spun him around with one hand, and threw him onto the top of a palm tree, where he died from the violent whirling.

Why did Balarama fight Dhenukasura in Krishna’s Vrindavan pastimes?

In the Talavana pastime, Dhenukāsura was obstructing the Vraja boys and creating fear; Balarāma removes this obstacle, showing the Lord’s role as protector of His devotees and of Vraja-dhāma.

What is the practical lesson of Dhenukasura’s defeat for modern life?

The verse highlights that obstacles to devotion and dharma can be uprooted decisively; a devotee can seek strength through disciplined practice and sincere prayer, trusting the Lord’s protection when facing disruptive influences.