Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 18

Kṛṣṇa Defeats Bāṇāsura and Receives Śiva’s Prayers

The Śoṇitapura Battle and the Jvara Episode

Devanagari script

धनूंष्याकृष्य युगपद् बाण: पञ्चशतानि वै । एकैकस्मिन् शरौ द्वौ द्वौ सन्दधे रणदुर्मद: ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

dhanūṁṣy ākṛṣya yugapad bāṇaḥ pañca-śatāni vai ekaikasmin śarau dvau dvau sandadhe raṇa-durmadaḥ

Translation

Excited to a frenzy by the fighting, Bāṇa simultaneously pulled taut all the strings of his five hundred bows and fixed two arrows on each string.

Synonyms

• धनूंषि: bows
• धनूंषि: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• आकृष्य: having drawn
• आकृष्य: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + कृष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्यय-भाव; ‘having drawn/pulled’

• युगपत्: simultaneously
• युगपत्: क्रियाविशेषणम् (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: युगपत् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• बाणः: Bāṇa
• बाणः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पञ्च-शतानि: five hundred
• पञ्च-शतानि: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; द्विगु-समासः: पञ्च शतानि (five hundreds = five hundred)

• वै: indeed
• वै: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वै (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (emphatic/assuring particle)

• एक-एकस्मिन्: in each (one)
• एक-एकस्मिन्: अधिकरण (Adhikarana/Location)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + एक (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्वन्द्व-समासः (reduplicative): एकश्च एकश्च → ‘each (one)’; here ‘in each’

• शरौ: in an arrow
• शरौ: अधिकरण (Adhikarana/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• द्वौ: two
• द्वौ: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; संख्या (numeral)

• द्वौ: two (and two)
• द्वौ: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; पुनरुक्ति (distributive repetition)

• सन्दधे: fixed/placed (on)
• सन्दधे: क्रिया (Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + धा (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; आत्मनेपदी

• रण-दुर्मदः: battle-maddened
• रण-दुर्मदः: कर्तृ-विशेषणम् (Adjectival to subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: रण (प्रातिपदिक) + दुर्मद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: रणेन दुर्मदः / रणे दुर्मदः (mad with battle)

Characters & Entities

• Bāṇāsura (Bāṇa)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about pride in battle (raṇa-durmada)?

This verse portrays Bāṇāsura as overwhelmed by battle-pride, highlighting how martial prowess and arrogance can inflate the ego just before divine power checks it.

Who is speaking this verse in Bhagavatam 10.63.18?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī narrates these events to King Parīkṣit as part of the account of Kṛṣṇa’s battle with Bāṇāsura.

What is the practical lesson of Bhagavatam 10.63.18 for modern life?

Extraordinary ability and resources can breed overconfidence; this verse reminds a seeker to pair strength with humility and dependence on the Supreme rather than ego.