Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 7

The Rise of Soma-vaṁśa: Budha’s Birth and Purūravā–Urvaśī; The Origin of Karma-kāṇḍa in Tretā-yuga

Devanagari script

सर्वदेवगणोपेतो महेन्द्रो गुरुमन्वयात् । सुरासुरविनाशोऽभूत् समरस्तारकामय: ॥ ७ ॥

Transliteration

sarva-deva-gaṇopeto mahendro gurum anvayāt surāsura-vināśo ’bhūt samaras tārakāmayaḥ

Translation

King Indra, accompanied by all kinds of demigods, joined the side of Bṛhaspati. Thus there was a great fight, destroying both demons and demigods, only for the sake of Tārā, Bṛhaspati’s wife.

Synonyms

• sarva-deva-gaṇa-upetaḥ: accompanied by all the hosts of gods
• sarva-deva-gaṇa-upetaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + deva (प्रातिपदिक) + gaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + upeta (कृदन्त; √i/इ ‘to go’, उप- + क्त)
• Form: समास (तत्पुरुष; ‘accompanied by the group of all gods’), क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण of mahendraḥ

• mahendraḥ: Mahendra (Indra)
• mahendraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahendra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• gurum: the teacher (Bṛhaspati)
• gurum: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular)

• anvayāt: followed; went after
• anvayāt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu + i (धातु)
• Form: लुङ्-लकार (Aorist), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• sura-asura-vināśaḥ: the destruction of gods and demons
• sura-asura-vināśaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sura (प्रातिपदिक) + asura (प्रातिपदिक) + vināśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (द्वन्द्व-पूर्वपद ‘sura-asura’ + षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-भाव: ‘destruction of suras and asuras’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• abhūt: occurred; came to be
• abhūt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: लुङ्-लकार (Aorist), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular)

• samaraḥ: battle; war
• samaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• tārakāmayaḥ: (the war) concerning Tārā; ‘Tārakā-related’
• tārakāmayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tārakā (प्रातिपदिक) + maya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (मयट्-अर्थ: ‘consisting of/caused by Tārakā’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण of samaraḥ

Characters & Entities

• Indra (Mahendra)
• Bṛhaspati
• Devas
• Asuras

FAQs

What is the Tārakāmaya war in the Srimad Bhagavatam?

It is a major battle described in Canto 9 where Indra, joined by the demigods and acting under his guru Bṛhaspati’s direction, fights in a conflict that causes heavy destruction among both devas and asuras.

Why does Indra act “following the guru” in this verse?

The verse highlights that even the king of heaven should act under spiritual authority; Indra enters the war in obedience to Bṛhaspati, emphasizing the Bhagavatam theme of guru-guided dharma.

How can this shloka be applied in modern life?

It teaches disciplined decision-making under wise guidance: before acting in conflict or competition, one should seek proper counsel and align actions with dharma rather than impulse.