Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 35

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

Devanagari script

तप:सारमयं त्वाष्ट्रं वृत्रो येन विपाटित: । अन्ये चापि बलोपेता: सर्वास्त्रैरक्षतत्वच: ॥ ३५ ॥

Transliteration

tapaḥ-sāramayaṁ tvāṣṭraṁ vṛtro yena vipāṭitaḥ anye cāpi balopetāḥ sarvāstrair akṣata-tvacaḥ

Translation

Mit eben diesem Vajra wurde Vṛtra zerschmettert, die Essenz der Askese Tvaṣṭās. Und nicht nur er: Viele andere kraftvolle Helden, deren Haut von keinerlei Waffen verletzt werden konnte, wurden ebenfalls von demselben Vajra getötet.

Synonyms

• tapaḥ-sāramayam: made of the essence of austerity
• tapaḥ-sāramayam: Karma (कर्म/object complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tapas (तपस्-प्रातिपदिक) + sāra (सार-प्रातिपदिक) + maya (मय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: तपसः सारः (essence of austerity) + मय (consisting of)

• tvāṣṭram: (the weapon) of Tvaṣṭṛ
• tvāṣṭram: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tvāṣṭra (त्वाष्ट्र-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेष्य (that which is made by Tvaṣṭṛ)

• vṛtraḥ: Vṛtra
• vṛtraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vṛtra (वृत्र-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• yena: by which
• yena: Karana (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: yad (यद्-सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; relative

• vipāṭitaḥ: was split open
• vipāṭitaḥ: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-pāṭita (विपाटित-प्रातिपदिक; √paṭ/paṭṭ? causative sense 'to split')
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (PPP) = 'torn asunder'

• anye: others
• anye: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: anya (अन्य-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• api: also
• api: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: api (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (also/even)

• balopetāḥ: endowed with strength
• balopetāḥ: Karta (कर्ता/qualifier of अन्ये)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bala (बल-प्रातिपदिक) + upeta (उपेत-प्रातिपदिक; √i with upa)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; तृतीया/सह-तत्पुरुष: बलेन उपेताः (endowed with strength)

• sarva-astraiḥ: with all weapons
• sarva-astraiḥ: Karana (करण/instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (सर्व-प्रातिपदिक) + astra (अस्त्र-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष: सर्वाणि अस्त्राणि (all weapons)

• akṣata-tvacaḥ: with unbroken skin (invulnerable)
• akṣata-tvacaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/qualifier of अन्ये)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: akṣata (अक्षत-प्रातिपदिक; √kṣan? here 'uninjured') + tvac (त्वच्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय: अक्षता त्वक् येषाम् (having unbroken skin)

Characters & Entities

• Vṛtrāsura
• Tvaṣṭā

FAQs

What is the Tvaṣṭra weapon (tvāṣṭram) mentioned in Srimad Bhagavatam?

In this verse, the tvāṣṭram is described as a weapon born of Tvaṣṭā and formed from the essence of austerity (tapas), powerful enough to tear apart Vṛtrāsura.

Why does the Bhagavatam emphasize that the weapon was made from the essence of tapasya?

It highlights that spiritual potency generated by austerity can manifest as overwhelming power, surpassing ordinary martial strength and conventional weapons.

What practical lesson can devotees take from this shloka?

Worldly power alone is limited; disciplined austerity and spiritual strength (tapas) create deeper, transformative potency—best directed toward devotion and self-mastery.