Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 14

Dadhīci’s Supreme Charity and the Opening of Indra’s War with Vṛtrāsura

Devanagari script

अथेन्द्रो वज्रमुद्यम्य निर्मितं विश्वकर्मणा । मुने: शक्तिभिरुत्सिक्तो भगवत्तेजसान्वित: ॥ १३ ॥ वृतो देवगणै: सर्वैर्गजेन्द्रोपर्यशोभत । स्तूयमानो मुनिगणैस्त्रैलोक्यं हर्षयन्निव ॥ १४ ॥

Transliteration

athendro vajram udyamya nirmitaṁ viśvakarmaṇā muneḥ śaktibhir utsikto bhagavat-tejasānvitaḥ

Translation

Von allen Devas umgeben, erstrahlte Indra auf dem Elefanten Airāvata. Von den Weisen gepriesen, schien er die drei Welten zu erfreuen.

Synonyms

• वृतः: surrounded
• वृतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वृ (धातु)
• Form: कर्मणि क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; इन्द्रः (अध्याहृत) इति विशेषणम्; अर्थ: परिवृत/आवृत (surrounded)

• देवगणैः: by groups of gods
• देवगणैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देवगण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (देवानां गणाः); पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया; बहुवचन

• सर्वैः: by all
• सर्वैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया; बहुवचन; देवगणैः इति विशेषणम्

• गजेन्द्र-उपरि: upon (the) elephant-lord
• गजेन्द्र-उपरि: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: गजेन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + उपरि (अव्यय)
• Form: उपरि इति देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb: upon/above); गजेन्द्र- इति उपपद-सम्बन्ध (on the lordly elephant)

• अशोभत: shone
• अशोभत: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: शुभ् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/Past); प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person); एकवचन; परस्मैपद; अर्थ: शोभितवान्/अशोभत (shone/was splendid)

• स्तूयमानः: being praised
• स्तूयमानः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्तु (धातु)
• Form: कर्मणि वर्तमानकाले शानच्-प्रत्यय (passive present participle); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; इन्द्रः (अध्याहृत) इति विशेषणम्; अर्थ: स्तूयते इति (being praised)

• मुनिगणैः: by groups of sages
• मुनिगणैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुनिगण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (मुनीनां गणाः); पुंलिङ्ग; तृतीया; बहुवचन

• त्रैलोक्यम्: the three worlds
• त्रैलोक्यम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्रैलोक्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (त्रीणि लोकानि); नपुंसकलिङ्ग; द्वितीया; एकवचन

• हर्षयन्: gladdening
• हर्षयन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हृष् (धातु)
• Form: णिच्-प्रत्यय (causative) + शतृ (present active participle); पुंलिङ्ग; प्रथमा; एकवचन; इन्द्रः (अध्याहृत) इति विशेषणम्; अर्थ: हर्षयति (gladdening)

• इव: as if
• इव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-वाचक-अव्यय (indeclinable of comparison: as if/like)

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Viśvakarmā
• Dadhīci (the sage)
• Bhagavān (the Supreme Lord)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Indra’s vajra (thunderbolt)?

It states that Indra’s vajra was crafted by Viśvakarmā, empowered by the sage’s potency, and infused with the Lord’s divine effulgence—making it effective for the cosmic purpose at hand.

Why is the vajra described as empowered by a sage and by the Lord’s splendor?

Because the weapon’s true effectiveness is shown to depend not merely on craftsmanship, but on spiritual merit (the sage’s potency) and ultimately the Supreme Lord’s sanction.

Practical application of divine empowerment in modern life?

Do your duty with the best means available, but seek purity, sacrifice, and God’s grace—recognizing that higher support, not ego, makes actions successful.