Shloka 9

Devanagari script

देवासुरम् अभूद् युद्धं दिव्यम् अब्दं पुरा द्विज तस्मिन् पराजिता देवा दैत्यैर् ह्रादपुरोगमैः

Transliteration

devāsuram abhūd yuddhaṃ divyam abdaṃ purā dvija tasmin parājitā devā daityair hrādapurogamaiḥ

Translation

يا ذا المولدَين، في الأزمنة السالفة قامت حربٌ بين الديفات والأسورات دامت سنةً إلهية كاملة؛ وفيها انهزم الديفات على يد الديتيّات يتقدمهم هرادا.

Word by Word

• देवासुरम्: between gods and demons
• देवासुरम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: देव + असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (देवाश्च असुराश्च); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; Dvandva compound used adjectivally, Neuter Nom/Acc singular

• अभूत्: was/occurred
• अभूत्: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतनभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Imperfect, 3rd person singular

• युद्धम्: battle
• युद्धम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, एकवचन; Neuter, Nominative singular

• दिव्यम्: divine
• दिव्यम्: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; Adjective agreeing with युद्धम्, Neuter Nom/Acc singular

• अब्दम्: for a year
• अब्दम्: Kaaladhikarana (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अब्द (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Accusative singular (duration)

• पुरा: formerly
• पुरा: Kaaladhikarana (Time/कालाधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: पुरा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time: formerly)

• द्विज: O twice-born
• द्विज: Sambodhana (Address/सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्विज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन विभक्ति, एकवचन; Masculine, Vocative singular

• तस्मिन्: in that (battle)
• तस्मिन्: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम, पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; Pronoun, Locative singular

• पराजिताः: defeated
• पराजिताः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पराजि (धातु) → पराजित (क्त-प्रत्यय कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Past passive participle, Masculine, Nominative plural

• देवाः: the gods
• देवाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Masculine, Nominative plural

• दैत्यैः: by the Daityas
• दैत्यैः: Karana (Instrument/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण) विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Masculine, Instrumental plural

• ह्रादपुरोगमैः: with Hrāda as their leader
• ह्रादपुरोगमैः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ह्राद + पुरोगम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (ह्रादः पुरोगमः येषाम्); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति, बहुवचन; Tatpurusha compound used adjectivally, Masculine Instrumental plural

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Topic: Context for the forthcoming hymn: the devas’ defeat in the deva-asura war led by Hrāda.

Teaching: Historical

Quality: authoritative

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Hari

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Asuras
• Daityas
• Hrāda

FAQs

What is the significance of the Deva–Asura war in the Vishnu Purana?

It illustrates cyclical imbalance in the cosmos—when adharma rises, even the Devas may fall—setting the stage for restoration through higher divine order ultimately grounded in Vishnu.

How does Sage Parāśara frame this conflict for Maitreya?

Parāśara presents it as an ancient, time-scaled (a “divine year”) cosmic event, emphasizing that celestial history unfolds in vast cycles where victory and defeat are subordinate to the overarching maintenance of dharma.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Though not named in this verse, the Purana’s theology treats such Deva defeats as preludes to Vishnu’s supreme sovereignty—He is the stabilizing reality through whom cosmic order is ultimately re-established.