Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 34

Balarāma Humbles the Kurus and Rescues Sāmba

Devanagari script

नोग्रसेन: किल विभुर्भोजवृष्ण्यन्धकेश्वर: । शक्रादयो लोकपाला यस्यादेशानुवर्तिन: ॥ ३४ ॥

Transliteration

nograsenaḥ kila vibhur bhoja-vṛṣṇy-andhakeśvaraḥ śakrādayo loka-pālā yasyādeśānuvartinaḥ

Translation

“King Ugrasena, the lord of the Bhojas, Vṛṣṇis and Andhakas, is not fit to command, when Indra and other planetary rulers obey his orders?

Synonyms

• न: not
• न: Negation (निषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Negation particle (निषेध-अव्यय)

• उग्रसेनः: Ugrasena
• उग्रसेनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ugrasena (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• किल: indeed/they say
• किल: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: kila (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle indicating report/indeed (खलु/किलार्थक-अव्यय)

• विभुः: the lord/powerful one
• विभुः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (समनाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• भोज-वृष्णि-अन्धक-ईश्वरः: lord of the Bhojas, Vṛṣṇis, and Andhakas
• भोज-वृष्णि-अन्धक-ईश्वरः: Karta-samānādhikaraṇa (समनाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhoja (प्रातिपदिक) + vṛṣṇi (प्रातिपदिक) + andhaka (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; genitive-relation tatpuruṣa: 'lord of the Bhojas, Vṛṣṇis, and Andhakas'

• शक्र-आदयः: Indra and others
• शक्र-आदयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śakra (प्रातिपदिक) + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; 'Śakra and others'

• लोक-पालाः: world-guardians
• लोक-पालाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक) + pāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; 'protectors of the worlds'

• यस्य: whose
• यस्य: Ṣaṣṭhī-sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (प्रातिपदिक सर्वनाम)
• Form: Relative pronoun; Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (masculine/neuter)

• आदेश-अनुवर्तिनः: obedient to (his) orders
• आदेश-अनुवर्तिनः: Viśeṣaṇa of Karta (कर्ता-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ādeśa (प्रातिपदिक) + anuvartin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; 'following the command'

Characters & Entities

• Ugrasena
• Indra (Śakra)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Ugrasena’s position as king?

This verse states that Ugrasena is the sovereign ruler of the Bhojas, Vṛṣṇis, and Andhakas, and that even Indra and other world-guardians follow his orders.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī emphasize that even Indra follows Ugrasena’s command?

To highlight the extraordinary legitimacy and authority of Ugrasena’s reign—established within Kṛṣṇa’s dharma-centered order—so that worldly and heavenly powers align with rightful kingship.

What is the practical application of this verse in modern life?

It teaches respect for dharmic leadership and proper authority—when leadership is aligned with righteousness, harmony naturally follows from the highest to the lowest levels of society.