Shloka 7

The Appearance of Vāmanadeva and His Arrival at Bali’s Sacrifice

Devanagari script

शङ्खदुन्दुभयो नेदुर्मृदङ्गपणवानका: । चित्रवादित्रतूर्याणां निर्घोषस्तुमुलोऽभवत् ॥ ७ ॥

Transliteration

śaṅkha-dundubhayo nedur mṛdaṅga-paṇavānakāḥ citra-vāditra-tūryāṇāṁ nirghoṣas tumulo ’bhavat

Translation

Muschelhörner und Kesseltrommeln ertönten; mṛdaṅgas, paṇavas und ānakas erklangen im Einklang. Das Dröhnen dieser und vieler anderer Instrumente und Hörner wurde gewaltig und tumultartig.

Synonyms

• śaṅkha-dundubhayaḥ: conches and kettledrums
• śaṅkha-dundubhayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śaṅkha (प्रातिपदिक) + dundubhi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvandva (द्वन्द्व) compound; Puṁliṅga (masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (nominative/प्रथमा) Bahuvacana (plural/बहुवचन)

• neduḥ: resounded
• neduḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √nad (धातु)
• Form: Luṅ (Aorist/लुङ्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person/प्रथमपुरुष), Bahuvacana (plural/बहुवचन)

• mṛdaṅga-paṇava-ānakāḥ: mṛdaṅgas, paṇavas, and ānakas (drums)
• mṛdaṅga-paṇava-ānakāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛdaṅga (प्रातिपदिक) + paṇava (प्रातिपदिक) + ānaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvandva (द्वन्द्व) compound; Puṁliṅga (masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (nominative/प्रथमा) Bahuvacana (plural/बहुवचन)

• citra-vāditra-tūryāṇām: of various musical instruments
• citra-vāditra-tūryāṇām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: citra (प्रातिपदिक) + vāditra (प्रातिपदिक) + tūrya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa (तत्पुरुष) compound; Napuṁsakalīṅga (neuter/नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Ṣaṣṭhī (genitive/षष्ठी) Bahuvacana (plural/बहुवचन)

• nirghoṣaḥ: a loud sound
• nirghoṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nirghoṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (nominative/प्रथमा) Ekavacana (singular/एकवचन)

• tumulaḥ: tumultuous
• tumulaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tumula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (masculine/पुंलिङ्ग), Prathamā (nominative/प्रथमा) Ekavacana (singular/एकवचन); agrees with nirghoṣaḥ

• abhavat: arose/was
• abhavat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √bhū (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ (Imperfect/लङ्), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person/प्रथमपुरुष), Ekavacana (singular/एकवचन)

Characters & Entities

• Bali Mahārāja
• Vāmana-deva

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the celebration during Vāmana’s arrival?

This verse describes the auspicious festival-like atmosphere—conchs, drums, and trumpets sounding loudly—indicating a grand, dharmic ceremony surrounding Bali’s charitable offering to Vāmana.

Why are conchshells and drums mentioned in the Vāmana–Bali episode?

They mark a formal Vedic occasion (a public act of dāna/charity and ritual honor). The loud instruments signify auspiciousness and the communal recognition of a sacred event unfolding.

Practical application of this shloka’s message in modern life?

Make acts of charity and devotion intentional and sacred—performed with joy, reverence, and a sense of offering—rather than as a casual or reluctant transaction.