Shloka 17

Pradyumna’s Abduction, Mahā-māyā, and the Slaying of Śambara

Devanagari script

स च शम्बरमभ्येत्य संयुगाय समाह्वयत् । अविषह्यैस्तमाक्षेपै: क्षिपन् सञ्जनयन् कलिम् ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

sa ca śambaram abhyetya saṁyugāya samāhvayat aviṣahyais tam ākṣepaiḥ kṣipan sañjanayan kalim

Translation

Pradyumna trat zu Śambara heran und forderte ihn zum Kampf heraus, indem er ihn mit unerträglichen Schmähungen überhäufte, um den Streit zu entfachen.

Synonyms

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम् (Nominative singular, masculine pronoun)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-निपातः (conjunction/particle: and)

• शम्बरम्: Śambara (the demon)
• शम्बरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्बर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया-एकवचनम् (Accusative singular)

• अभ्येत्य: having approached
• अभ्येत्य: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-इ (धातु) + ल्यप् (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्तः (gerund/absolutive), ‘having approached’

• संयुगाय: for combat
• संयुगाय: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संयुग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे चतुर्थी-एकवचनम् (Dative singular: for battle)

• समाह्वयत्: challenged/called (to fight)
• समाह्वयत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-ह्वे (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुषः, एकवचनम् (3rd sg)

• अविषह्यैः: with unbearable
• अविषह्यैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अविषह्य (प्रातिपदिक; कृदन्त-विशेषण from √सह with नञ्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया-बहुवचनम् (Instrumental plural), ‘unbearable’

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया-एकवचनम् (Accusative singular)

• आक्षेपैः: taunts/insults
• आक्षेपैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आक्षेप (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे तृतीया-बहुवचनम् (Instrumental plural)

• क्षिपन्: hurling (insults)
• क्षिपन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्षिप् (धातु) + शतृ (वर्तमान-कृदन्त)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्तः वर्तमान-कृदन्तः, पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम् (present active participle: ‘throwing/uttering’)

• सञ्जनयन्: producing
• सञ्जनयन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-जनय् (धातु; causative of √जन्) + शतृ
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्तः वर्तमान-कृदन्तः, पुंलिङ्गे प्रथमा-एकवचनम् (present active participle: ‘producing’)

• कलिम्: quarrel/strife
• कलिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे द्वितीया-एकवचनम् (Accusative singular)

Characters & Entities

• Pradyumna
• Śambara

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Pradyumna confronting Śambara?

This verse describes Pradyumna directly approaching Śambara and challenging him to fight, provoking the encounter through sharp, unbearable taunts.

Why did Pradyumna provoke Śambara with harsh words?

In the narrative, Pradyumna is initiating the decisive battle against his captor/enemy; the taunts serve to force Śambara into open combat and bring the conflict to its conclusion.

Practical application of controlling “kali” (quarrel) in modern life?

The verse shows how harsh speech can ignite conflict; a devotee applies this by choosing truthful, restrained words and avoiding needless provocation that breeds hostility.