Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 33
Paugaṇḍa Cowherding, Tālavana, the Slaying of Dhenukāsura, and Revival from Poisoned Yamunā Water
तेनाहतो महातालो वेपमानो बृहच्छिरा: । पार्श्वस्थं कम्पयन् भग्न: स चान्यं सोऽपि चापरम् ॥ ३३ ॥
tenāhato mahā-tālo vepamāno bṛhac-chirāḥ pārśva-sthaṁ kampayan bhagnaḥ sa cānyaṁ so ’pi cāparam
Lord Balarāma threw the dead body of Dhenukāsura into the tallest palm tree in the forest, and when the dead demon landed in the treetop, the tree began shaking. The great palm tree, causing a tree by its side also to shake, broke under the weight of the demon. The neighboring tree caused yet another tree to shake, and this one struck yet another tree, which also began shaking. In this way many trees in the forest shook and broke.
Lord Balarāma threw the demon Dhenuka so violently into the great palm tree that a chain reaction was unleashed, and many towering palm trees shook and then broke with a great crashing sound.
FAQs
In Tālavana, Balarāma powerfully strikes the tāla trees; they tremble and topple in a chain reaction, setting the stage for the confrontation with the ass-demon Dhenukāsura and his followers.
The verse highlights Balarāma’s extraordinary divine strength: one struck tree collapses and knocks down others, vividly portraying the Lord’s effortless control over nature during His Vṛndāvana pastimes.
Small actions can create cascading effects—so align your “first strike” with dharma and devotion; similarly, sincere spiritual practice can quickly transform many connected areas of life.