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Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 21

Indra Slays Namuci—The Limits of Power and the Triumph of Divine Strategy

हरीन्दशशतान्याजौ हर्यश्वस्य बल: शरै: । तावद्भ‍िरर्दयामास युगपल्ल‍घुहस्तवान् ॥ २१ ॥

harīn daśa-śatāny ājau haryaśvasya balaḥ śaraiḥ tāvadbhir ardayām āsa yugapal laghu-hastavān

Auf dem Schlachtfeld brachte der flinken Hand des Dämons Bala Indras tausend Pferde in Not, indem er sie zugleich mit ebenso vielen Pfeilen durchbohrte.

हरीन्horses
हरीन्:
कर्म (Karma/Object)
TypeNoun
Rootहरि (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन
दशशतानिten hundreds (a thousand)
दशशतानि:
विशेषण (Quantifying adjective)
TypeNoun
Rootदश + शत (प्रातिपदिक)
Formद्विगु-समास (numerical compound: 'ten hundreds' = one thousand); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; हरीन्-विशेषण (quantifier)
आजौin battle
आजौ:
अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
TypeNoun
Rootअज (प्रातिपदिक: अज m. 'battle, contest')
Formसप्तमी, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग
हर्यश्वस्यof Haryaśva
हर्यश्वस्य:
सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
TypeNoun
Rootहर्यश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
Formषष्ठी, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग
बलःBala
बलः:
कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootबल (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन
शरैःwith arrows
शरैः:
करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
TypeNoun
Rootशर (प्रातिपदिक)
Formतृतीया, बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग
तावद्भिःwith that many
तावद्भिः:
विशेषण (Adjectival to instrument)
TypeAdjective
Rootतावत् (सर्वनाम/परिमाण-प्रातिपदिक)
Formतृतीया, बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; शरैः-विशेषण ('with so many')
अर्दयाम्torment/crush (did)
अर्दयाम्:
क्रिया (Part of periphrastic perfect)
TypeVerb
Rootअर्द् (धातु)
Formलिट् (Perfect) periphrastic base (आम-प्रयोग); धातु-आम-रूप (verbal noun base) used with auxiliary; क्रियापद-भाग
आसdid/was (aux.)
आस:
क्रिया (Auxiliary)
TypeVerb
Rootअस् (धातु)
Formलिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदी; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; सहायक-क्रिया (auxiliary in periphrastic perfect)
युगपत्simultaneously
युगपत्:
क्रियाविशेषण (Adverb)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootयुगपत् (अव्यय)
Formकालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time/manner: simultaneously)
लघुहस्तवान्having a swift hand
लघुहस्तवान्:
विशेषण (Adjectival to subject)
TypeAdjective
Rootलघु + हस्तवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formबहुव्रीहि (possessive: 'one whose hand is quick'); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बल-विशेषण
B
Bala
H
Haryaśva

FAQs

Bala is a powerful asura warrior described as the son of Haryaśva, fighting fiercely in the Devasura battle.

It describes Bala’s extraordinary speed and skill, striking down hundreds of elephants with arrows as if attacking them all simultaneously.

It highlights how concentrated skill and speed can create overwhelming impact—encouraging disciplined practice, focus, and excellence, while remembering that true victory ultimately depends on divine will.