Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 28

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

Devanagari script

युयोध बलिरिन्द्रेण तारकेण गुहोऽस्यत । वरुणो हेतिनायुध्यन्मित्रो राजन्प्रहेतिना ॥ २८ ॥

Transliteration

yuyodha balir indreṇa tārakeṇa guho ’syata varuṇo hetināyudhyan mitro rājan prahetinā

Translation

O König, Bali kämpfte gegen Indra; Guha (Kārttikeya) gegen Tāraka; Varuṇa gegen Heti; und Mitra gegen Praheti.

Synonyms

• yuyodha: fought
• yuyodha: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yudh (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदी; प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• baliḥ: Bali
• baliḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bali (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• indreṇa: with Indra / against Indra
• indreṇa: Sahakari/Pratiyogin (सहकारी/प्रतियोगिन्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: indra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• tārakeṇa: with Tāraka / against Tāraka
• tārakeṇa: Sahakari/Pratiyogin (सहकारी/प्रतियोगिन्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tāraka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• guhaḥ: Guha (Kārttikeya)
• guhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: guha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• asyata: threw, shot
• asyata: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु; ‘to throw’)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपदी; प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• varuṇaḥ: Varuṇa
• varuṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varuṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• hetinā: with Heti / against Heti
• hetinā: Sahakari/Pratiyogin (सहकारी/प्रतियोगिन्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: heti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; ‘with Heti (a demon/weapon-bearer)’

• ayudhyan: fought
• ayudhyan: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: yudh (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपदी; प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• mitraḥ: Mitra
• mitraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mitra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• rājan: O king
• rājan: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

• prahetinā: with Praheti / against Praheti
• prahetinā: Sahakari/Pratiyogin (सहकारी/प्रतियोगिन्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: praheti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; ‘with Praheti (a demon/weapon-bearer)’

Characters & Entities

• Bali
• Indra
• Tāraka
• Guha (Skanda/Kārttikeya)
• Varuṇa
• Heti
• Mitra
• Praheti
• King Parīkṣit

FAQs

Who fought whom in Srimad Bhagavatam 8.10.28?

This verse lists key pairings in the battle: Bali fought Indra; Guha attacked Tāraka; Varuṇa fought Heti; and Mitra fought Praheti.

Why is King Parikshit addressed as 'O King' in this verse?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī is narrating the battle to Mahārāja Parīkṣit, so he directly addresses him (rājan) while describing the combatants.

What is the practical lesson of the Deva-Asura battle for modern life?

The verse highlights disciplined engagement in duty amid conflict; for a devotee, it points to aligning one’s struggle with dharma and remembrance of the Lord rather than ego-driven rivalry.