Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 36

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

Devanagari script

सोऽयं प्रतिहतो वज्रो मया मुक्तोऽसुरेऽल्पके । नाहं तदाददे दण्डं ब्रह्मतेजोऽप्यकारणम् ॥ ३६ ॥

Transliteration

so ’yaṁ pratihato vajro mayā mukto ’sure ’lpake nāhaṁ tad ādade daṇḍaṁ brahma-tejo ’py akāraṇam

Translation

Doch nun, obwohl ich denselben Vajra gegen einen unbedeutenden Asura schleuderte, wurde er abgewehrt und blieb wirkungslos. Darum ist er, obgleich einem Brahmāstra gleich, jetzt nutzlos wie ein gewöhnlicher Stock; ich werde ihn nicht länger halten.

Synonyms

• saḥ: that (thunderbolt)
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ayam: this
• ayam: Karta (कर्ता/apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (इदम्-सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; निर्देश (deictic)

• pratihataḥ: repelled
• pratihataḥ: Karta (कर्ता/qualifier of वज्रः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pratihata (प्रतिहत-प्रातिपदिक; √han)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; PPP

• vajraḥ: thunderbolt
• vajraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vajra (वज्र-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• mayā: by me
• mayā: Karana (करण/agent-instrument in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (अस्मद्-सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (Instrumental/3rd), एकवचन

• muktaḥ: was released
• muktaḥ: Kriya (क्रिया/predicate)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mukta (मुक्त-प्रातिपदिक; √muc)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; PPP = 'released/let go'

• asure: at/on the demon
• asure: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/target locus)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asura (असुर-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• alpake: small/insignificant
• alpake: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: alpaka (अल्पक-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी, एकवचन; विशेषण of असुरे

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/negation)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय

• aham: I
• aham: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (अस्मद्-सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

• ādade: took up/accepted
• ādade: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-dā (आ√दा-धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष? actually उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन; ādade = 'I took/accepted'

• daṇḍam: punishment
• daṇḍam: Karma (कर्म/object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: daṇḍa (दण्ड-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• brahma-tejaḥ: spiritual (brahmanical) power
• brahma-tejaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/subject of implied 'is')
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (ब्रह्मन्-प्रातिपदिक) + tejas (तेजस्-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ब्रह्मणः तेजः (brahminical/spiritual power)

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

• akāraṇam: without cause
• akāraṇam: Karta (कर्ता/qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: akāraṇa (अकारण-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण of तेजः; 'without cause'

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Vajra (thunderbolt)
• Asura (demon)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about punishing someone without cause?

This verse emphasizes dharma: punishment should not be accepted or administered without proper cause, even if backed by great spiritual or institutional power (brahma-tejas).

Why did Indra say the thunderbolt was repelled in Canto 8 Chapter 11?

In the heat of the Deva–Asura battle, Indra’s vajra failed against an asura, and Indra reflects that mere power is not enough—actions must align with justice and rightful cause.

Practical application of this Bhagavatam teaching in modern life?

Use authority responsibly: do not punish, shame, or retaliate impulsively; verify the cause and act fairly, even when you have the power to enforce consequences.