Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 5

Nārada’s Protection of Kayādhu and Prahlāda’s Womb-Instructions: Ātma-tattva and the Path of Bhakti

Devanagari script

तेषामतिबलोद्योगं निशम्यासुरयूथपा: । वध्यमाना: सुरैर्भीता दुद्रुवु: सर्वतो दिशम् ॥ ४ ॥ कलत्रपुत्रवित्ताप्तान्गृहान्पशुपरिच्छदान् । नावेक्ष्यमाणास्त्वरिता: सर्वे प्राणपरीप्सव: ॥ ५ ॥

Transliteration

teṣām atibalodyogaṁ niśamyāsura-yūthapāḥ vadhyamānāḥ surair bhītā dudruvuḥ sarvato diśam

Translation

Als die Anführer der Asuras, die einer nach dem anderen von den Devas erschlagen wurden, den beispiellosen Kampfeseifer der Halbgötter sahen, ergriff sie Furcht, und sie flohen, in alle Richtungen zerstreut. Um ihr Leben zu retten, ließen sie hastig Häuser, Frauen, Kinder, Reichtum, Vieh und Hausrat zurück, ohne sich um irgendetwas zu kümmern.

Synonyms

• कलत्र-पुत्र-वित्त-आप्तान्: wives, sons, wealth, and dear ones
• कलत्र-पुत्र-वित्त-आप्तान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कलत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + पुत्र (प्रातिपदिक) + वित्त (प्रातिपदिक) + आप्त (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural); समाहार-द्वन्द्व/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व-समासः (coordinative): ‘कलत्रं च पुत्राश्च वित्तं च आप्ताश्च’ (wives, sons, wealth, and dear ones/relatives)

• गृहान्: homes
• गृहान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• पशु-परिच्छदान्: cattle and possessions
• पशु-परिच्छदान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पशु (प्रातिपदिक) + परिच्छद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन (Plural); द्वन्द्व-समासः: ‘पशवश्च परिच्छदाश्च’ (cattle and belongings/gear)

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय (negation particle)

• अवेक्ष्यमाणाः: not looking back
• अवेक्ष्यमाणाः: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-सम्बन्ध; attendant circumstance)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव-ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (Present passive participle/शानच्), कर्मणि-प्रयोग (passive sense), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; अर्थः ‘अवेक्ष्यन्ते’ (being looked at) → न अवेक्ष्यमाणाः = ‘not looking at / without looking back’ (idiomatic)

• त्वरिताः: hastened
• त्वरिताः: Karta-anvaya (कर्ता-सम्बन्ध; predicate adjective)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्वरित (प्रातिपदिक/कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; विशेषणम्

• सर्वे: all
• सर्वे: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), बहुवचन (Plural)

• प्राण-परीप्सवः: seeking to save their lives
• प्राण-परीप्सवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक) + परीप्सु (प्रातिपदिक; desiderative agent-noun)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘प्राणान् परीप्सवः’ (desiring to preserve life); विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘सर्वे’)

Characters & Entities

• Asuras
• Suras (demigods)

FAQs

Why do the asura leaders flee in the Srimad Bhagavatam?

Because they hear of the enemy’s overwhelming strength and, being attacked by the demigods, become fearful and run in all directions.

Who is narrating this verse in Bhagavata Purana Canto 7?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī, speaking to King Parīkṣit, narrates these events.

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

Power without righteousness and inner steadiness collapses under pressure; fear drives one to scatter, while dharmic strength brings composure.