Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 29

The Battle of Nahuṣa and Huṇḍa

within the Guru-tīrtha Glorification Episode

Devanagari script

इत्युक्वा दानवं तं तु धनुर्विस्फार्य भूपतिः । मार्गणैर्दशभिस्तं तु विव्याध लघुविक्रमः

Transliteration

ityukvā dānavaṃ taṃ tu dhanurvisphārya bhūpatiḥ | mārgaṇairdaśabhistaṃ tu vivyādha laghuvikramaḥ

Translation

وبعد أن قال ذلك للدانافا، شدّ الملك قوسه فأطنّ، وبسُرعة بأسه طعنه بعشر سهام.

Word by Word

• iti: thus
• iti: Sambandha (Discourse marker/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: उद्धरण-समाप्त्यर्थक-अव्ययम् (quotative particle)

• ukvā: having said
• ukvā: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Prior action/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); ‘वच्’ (to speak) (having said)

• dānavam: the Dānava
• dānavam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dānava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम् (accusative singular)

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम्; सर्वनाम (accusative singular)

• tu: then/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः (particle)

• dhanuḥ: bow
• dhanuḥ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhanus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया) एकवचनम् (accusative singular)

• visphārya: having twanged (it)
• visphārya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (Prior action/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-sphar (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); ‘वि+स्फर्’ (to stretch/twang) (having twanged/stretched)

• bhūpatiḥ: the king
• bhūpatiḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūpati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम् (nominative singular)

• mārgaṇaiḥ: with arrows
• mārgaṇaiḥ: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mārgaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम् (instrumental plural)

• daśabhiḥ: with ten
• daśabhiḥ: Karaṇa (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daśan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया बहुवचनम्; संख्याविशेषणम् (instrumental plural)

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया एकवचनम् (accusative singular)

• tu: then/indeed
• tu: Sambandha (Discourse particle/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: निपातः (particle)

• vivyādha: pierced
• vivyādha: Kriyā (Main action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vyadh (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (perfect) प्रथमपुरुषः (3rd person) एकवचनम्; ‘व्यध्’ (to pierce)

• laghu-vikramaḥ: the swift-valorous one
• laghu-vikramaḥ: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: laghu (प्रातिपदिक) + vikrama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा एकवचनम्; बहुव्रीहिः ‘लघु विक्रमो यस्य सः’ (one whose stride/valor is swift) (nominative singular)

Speaker

Narrator (contextual; not explicitly marked in this single verse)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: raudra

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: ityukvā = iti + ukvā; dhanurvisphārya = dhanuḥ + visphārya; mārgaṇairdaśabhiḥ = mārgaṇaiḥ + daśabhiḥ.

Characters & Entities

• Dānava
• Bhūpati (king)

FAQs

What action does the king take after addressing the Dānava?

He twangs his bow and strikes the Dānava with ten arrows, showing immediate martial resolve.

What does “laghuvikramaḥ” imply about the king?

It characterizes him as swift and effective in valor—quick to act and powerful in execution.

What ethical or dharmic theme is suggested by this verse?

It reflects a kṣatriya-style response to hostility: decisive protection and confrontation of disruptive forces (here symbolized by a Dānava).