Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 23

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

Devanagari script

शूलै: परश्वधै: खड्‌गै: शतघ्नीभिर्भुशुण्डिभि: । सर्वतोऽवाकिरन् शस्त्रैरस्त्रैश्च विबुधर्षभान् ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

śūlaiḥ paraśvadhaiḥ khaḍgaiḥ śataghnībhir bhuśuṇḍibhiḥ sarvato ’vākiran śastrair astraiś ca vibudharṣabhān

Translation

Mit Lanzen, Dreizacken, Äxten, Schwertern und Waffen wie śataghnī und bhuśuṇḍi bewaffnet, stürmten die Asuras von allen Seiten heran und zerstreuten die Anführer der Deva-Heere.

Synonyms

• शूलैः: with spears/tridents
• शूलैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शूल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन — Instrumental plural (means)

• परश्वधैः: with axes
• परश्वधैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परश्वध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन — Instrumental plural

• खड्गैः: with swords
• खड्गैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खड्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन — Instrumental plural

• शतघ्नीभिः: with śataghnīs (missile/stone-throwers)
• शतघ्नीभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शतघ्नी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन — Instrumental plural

• भुशुण्डिभिः: with bhuśuṇḍis (clubs/maces)
• भुशुण्डिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भुशुण्डि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन — Instrumental plural

• सर्वतः: from all sides
• सर्वतः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्वतः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रियाविशेषण — indeclinable adverb

• अवाकिरन्: they showered/strewn down
• अवाकिरन्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अव√कॄ (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतनभूत), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन, परस्मैपद — Imperfect, 3rd plural, active

• शस्त्रैः: with weapons
• शस्त्रैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन — Instrumental plural

• अस्त्रैः: with missiles
• अस्त्रैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन — Instrumental plural

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, समुच्चयबोधक — conjunction

• विबुधर्षभान्: the best of the gods
• विबुधर्षभान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: विबुध-ऋषभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), बहुवचन — Accusative plural; समास: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (विबुधानां ऋषभाः)

Characters & Entities

• Vibudhas (demigods)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam describe about the battle in Canto 6 Chapter 10?

This verse depicts the intensity of the conflict: the demigod leaders are attacked from all directions with many kinds of weapons—both hand weapons (śastra) and projectile weapons (astra).

Who is speaking this verse in Srimad Bhagavatam 6.10.23?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī narrates these events to Mahārāja Parīkṣit as part of the account of the demigods’ battle with Vṛtrāsura’s side.

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

Even when challenges come from all sides, one should remain steady in one’s rightful duty (dharma) and seek inner composure—remembering that external pressure does not have to defeat spiritual resolve.