Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 4

Ūṣā-Haraṇa, Bāṇāsura’s Pride, and Aniruddha’s Capture

Prelude to Hari–Śaṅkara Conflict

Devanagari script

स एकदाह गिरिशं पार्श्वस्थं वीर्यदुर्मद: । किरीटेनार्कवर्णेन संस्पृशंस्तत्पदाम्बुजम् ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

sa ekadāha giriśaṁ pārśva-sthaṁ vīrya-durmadaḥ kirīṭenārka-varṇena saṁspṛśaṁs tat-padāmbujam

Translation

Bāṇāsura was intoxicated with his strength. One day, when Lord Śiva was standing beside him, Bāṇāsura touched the lord’s lotus feet with his helmet, which shone like the sun, and spoke to him as follows.

Synonyms

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

• एकदा: once
• एकदा: काल-अधिकरण (Kāla-adhikaraṇa/Time)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एकदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• अह: indeed / ah
• अह: सम्बन्ध-निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अह (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle), पदपूरक/उद्गारार्थ

• गिरिशम्: Giriśa (Śiva)
• गिरिशम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गिरि-ईश (प्रातिपदिक; गिरि + ईश)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (गिरिणाम् ईशः = lord of mountains; Śiva)

• पार्श्वस्थम्: standing nearby
• पार्श्वस्थम्: कर्म-विशेषण (Object-Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पार्श्व-स्थ (प्रातिपदिक; पार्श्व + स्थ)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of गिरिशम्); तत्पुरुषः (at the side = standing nearby)

• वीर्यदुर्मदः: arrogant from strength
• वीर्यदुर्मदः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Subject-Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वीर्य-दुर्मद (प्रातिपदिक; वीर्य + दुर्मद)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of सः); तत्पुरुषः (proud due to valor)

• किरीटेन: with (his) crown
• किरीटेन: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किरीट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अर्कवर्णेन: sun-colored
• अर्कवर्णेन: करण-विशेषण (Instrument-Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्क-वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक; अर्क + वर्ण)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (of किरीटेन); कर्मधारयः (sun-colored)

• संस्पृशन्: touching
• संस्पृशन्: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; participial)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+स्पृश् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (Present active participle/शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; परस्मैपद; ‘touching’

• तत्: his
• तत्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-एकवचनार्थे (genitive sense as first member in compound)

• पदाम्बुजम्: the lotus-feet
• पदाम्बुजम्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद-अम्बुज (प्रातिपदिक; पद + अम्बुज)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (lotus-like feet)

Characters & Entities

• Girīśa (Lord Śiva)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about pride in one’s strength?

This verse highlights how being “maddened by valor” (vīrya-durmadaḥ) can cloud humility—prompting actions driven by ego rather than pure devotion.

Why is touching the lotus feet important in the Bhagavata Purana?

Touching the lotus feet signifies submission and seeking shelter; here, the act is described externally (touching with a crown), while the verse also hints that inner humility is the real essence.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Cultivate competence without arrogance—offer respect to elders, teachers, and the Divine, and treat achievements as reasons for gratitude rather than pride.