Srimad Bhagavatam — Navama Skandha, Shloka 22

Ikṣvāku Dynasty: Vikukṣi’s Offense, Purañjaya’s Victory, Māndhātā’s Birth, and Saubhari’s Fall and Renunciation

Devanagari script

य: प्रियार्थमुतङ्कस्य धुन्धुनामासुरं बली । सुतानामेकविंशत्या सहस्रैरहनद् वृत: ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

yaḥ priyārtham utaṅkasya dhundhu-nāmāsuraṁ balī sutānām eka-viṁśatyā sahasrair ahanad vṛtaḥ

Translation

Um den Weisen Utaṅka zu erfreuen, erschlug der überaus mächtige Kuvalayāśva den Asura namens Dhundhu, unterstützt von einundzwanzigtausend Söhnen.

Synonyms

• यः: who
• यः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative pronoun)

• प्रिय-अर्थम्: for the sake (of)
• प्रिय-अर्थम्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; चतुर्थी-तत्पुरुष/हेतु-अर्थ (for the sake of what is dear)

• उतङ्कस्य: of Utaṅka
• उतङ्कस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उतङ्क (प्रातिपदिक; नाम)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• धुन्धु-नाम: named Dhundhu
• धुन्धु-नाम: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: धुन्धु (प्रातिपदिक) + नामन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; नाम-तत्पुरुष (named Dhundhu), विशेषण (qualifier)

• असुरम्: the demon
• असुरम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: असुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• बली: mighty
• बली: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बलिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषण (mighty)

• सुतानाम्: of (his) sons
• सुतानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; सम्बन्ध (of sons)

• एक-विṁशत्या: with twenty-one
• एक-विṁशत्या: Sahakari (सहकारी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + विंशति (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; द्विगु-समास (21), करण/सह (with twenty-one)

• सहस्रैः: with thousands
• सहस्रैः: Sahakari (सहकारी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; करण/सह (with thousands)

• अहनत्: killed
• अहनत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: लुङ्-लकार (Aorist), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• वृतः: surrounded (by)
• वृतः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृ (धातु) + त (कृत्-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘वृत’ = surrounded/attended

Characters & Entities

• Utaṅka
• Dhundhu

FAQs

Who killed the demon Dhundhu in Srimad Bhagavatam?

This verse states that a mighty king, accompanied by twenty-one thousand sons, killed the demon Dhundhu to satisfy the sage Utaṅka.

Why did the king kill Dhundhu for Utaṅka rishi?

He did so to fulfill what was dear to Utaṅka—illustrating rishi-sevā and the kṣatriya’s duty to protect and assist saintly persons.

What is the practical lesson of this shloka for modern life?

Honor and support saintly guidance, and use one’s strength, resources, and leadership in service of dharma rather than personal pride.