Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 46

Deva–Asura Battle after the Nectar; Bali’s Illusions and Hari’s Intervention

Devanagari script

ततो निपेतुस्तरवो दह्यमाना दवाग्निना । शिला: सटङ्कशिखराश्चूर्णयन्त्यो द्विषद्बलम् ॥ ४६ ॥

Transliteration

tato nipetus taravo dahyamānā davāgninā śilāḥ saṭaṅka-śikharāś cūrṇayantyo dviṣad-balam

Translation

ومن تلك الجبل أخذت تتساقط أشجارٌ مشتعلة بنار الغابة، كما تساقطت شظايا صخرية ذات حواف حادّة كالمعول، فكانت تسحق رؤوس جيش الآلهة.

Synonyms

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya (अव्यय), adverbial (क्रियाविशेषण)

• nipetuḥ: fell down
• nipetuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√pat (पत् धातु)
• Form: Verb (तिङन्त), Aorist/लुङ्, 3rd Person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• taravaḥ: trees
• taravaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: taru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• dahyamānāḥ: being burned
• dahyamānāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √dah (दह् धातु)
• Form: Kridanta (कृदन्त) present passive participle (शानच्/मान), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• davāgninā: by the forest-fire
• davāgninā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dava (प्रातिपदिक) + agni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular (एकवचन); compound: dava-agni = forest-fire

• śilāḥ: rocks
• śilāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śilā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• saṭaṅka-śikharāḥ: with jagged peaks
• saṭaṅka-śikharāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: saṭaṅka (प्रातिपदिक) + śikhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Adjective (विशेषण), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); compound: saṭaṅkāni śikharāṇi yeṣām/saṭaṅka-śikharāḥ = having jagged peaks

• cūrṇayantyaḥ: crushing/pulverizing
• cūrṇayantyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √cūrṇ (चूर्ण्/चूर्णय् धातु)
• Form: Kridanta (कृदन्त) present active participle (शतृ), Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• dviṣat-balam: the enemy host
• dviṣat-balam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dviṣat (√dviṣ, शतृ-कृदन्त) + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन); compound: dviṣatām balam = the strength/army of the enemies

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam describe about the devastation in the Devasura battle (Canto 8 Chapter 10)?

This verse describes battlefield destruction so intense that it resembles a forest fire—trees burn and fall, and jagged rocks crash down, crushing the enemy forces.

Who is speaking this verse in Srimad Bhagavatam 8.10.46?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī is narrating these events to Mahārāja Parīkṣit.

What is a practical lesson from Bhagavatam 8.10.46 for modern life?

Overwhelming obstacles can arise suddenly like wildfire, but the Bhagavatam teaches steadiness and reliance on dharma and the Lord’s protection rather than pride in one’s own strength.