Padma Purana — Bhumi Khanda, Shloka 21

Nahusha’s Challenge to Hunda and the Mustering of Battle

Devanagari script

चतुरंगबलं मेऽद्य योजयस्व हि सत्वरम् । एवमाकर्ण्य तत्तस्य हुंडस्यापि ततो लघुः

Transliteration

caturaṃgabalaṃ me'dya yojayasva hi satvaram | evamākarṇya tattasya huṃḍasyāpi tato laghuḥ

Translation

“আজই আমার চতুরঙ্গিনী সেনা দ্রুত সাজাও।” এ কথা শুনে হুণ্ডও তৎক্ষণাৎ দ্রুত কাজে লেগে গেল।

Word by Word

• चतुरङ्गबलम्: the fourfold army-force
• चतुरङ्गबलम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चतुरङ्ग + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (चतुरङ्गस्य बलम्)

• मे: my
• मे: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अद्य: today
• अद्य: Adhikarana (Time/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अद्य (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time)

• योजयस्व: arrange / deploy
• योजयस्व: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: युज् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (आज्ञार्थे), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्; णिच्-प्रयोगः (causative: ‘cause to be yoked/arrange’)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; emphasis/assurance)

• सत्वरम्: quickly
• सत्वरम्: Kriya-visheshana (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सत्वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषणरूपेण नपुंसकलिङ्ग-एकवचन-प्रथमा/द्वितीया (adverbial accusative)

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshana (Manner/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of manner)

• आकर्ण्य: having heard
• आकर्ण्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + कर्ण् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘श्रुत्वा’

• तत्: that (command/statement)
• तत्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1/2), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• हुंडस्य: of Huṇḍa
• हुंडस्य: Sambandha (Genitive relation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हुंड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6), एकवचन; व्यक्तिनाम

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Discourse particle/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (particle; ‘also/even’)

• ततः: then / thereafter
• ततः: Apadana/Adhikarana (Source/sequence)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अपादानार्थक/क्रमवाचक-अव्यय (from there/then)

• लघुः: swift / quick
• लघुः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लघु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1), एकवचन; विशेषण (कश्चित् पुरुषः)

Speaker

Unspecified (a commanding figure addressing a subordinate/minister/commander)

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Sandhi Resolution Notes

Sandhi Resolution Notes: मेऽद्य = मे + अद्य; एवमाकर्ण्य = एवम् + आकर्ण्य; तत्तस्य = तत् + तस्य; हुंडस्यापि = हुंडस्य + अपि

Characters & Entities

• Huṇḍa

FAQs

What is meant by 'caturaṅgabala' in this verse?

It refers to the classical fourfold army: infantry, cavalry, chariots, and elephants—an idiom for a complete military force.

Who is Huṇḍa in this verse?

The verse names Huṇḍa as an actor who responds swiftly after hearing the command; the specific identity (king/warrior/leader) depends on the surrounding narrative of Adhyaya 114.

What ethical or thematic point does this verse convey?

It highlights decisive command and immediate execution—often used in Purāṇic narrative to show urgency, preparedness, and the momentum of impending conflict.