Shloka 24
Deva–Asura Battle after the Nectar; Bali’s Illusions and Hari’s Intervention
तस्यासन्सर्वतो यानैर्यूथानां पतयोऽसुरा: । नमुचि: शम्बरो बाणो विप्रचित्तिरयोमुख: ॥ १९ ॥ द्विमूर्धा कालनाभोऽथ प्रहेतिर्हेतिरिल्वल: । शकुनिर्भूतसन्तापो वज्रदंष्ट्रो विरोचन: ॥ २० ॥ हयग्रीव: शङ्कुशिरा: कपिलो मेघदुन्दुभि: । तारकश्चक्रदृक् शुम्भो निशुम्भो जम्भ उत्कल: ॥ २१ ॥ अरिष्टोऽरिष्टनेमिश्च मयश्च त्रिपुराधिप: । अन्ये पौलोमकालेया निवातकवचादय: ॥ २२ ॥ अलब्धभागा: सोमस्य केवलं क्लेशभागिन: । सर्व एते रणमुखे बहुशो निर्जितामरा: ॥ २३ ॥ सिंहनादान्विमुञ्चन्त: शङ्खान्दध्मुर्महारवान् । दृष्ट्वा सपत्नानुत्सिक्तान्बलभित् कुपितो भृशम् ॥ २४ ॥
tasyāsan sarvato yānair yūthānāṁ patayo ’surāḥ namuciḥ śambaro bāṇo vipracittir ayomukhaḥ
Surrounding Mahārāja Bali on every side, the commanders and captains of the asuras sat upon their own chariots—Namuci, Śambara, Bāṇa, Vipracitti, Ayomukha, Dvimūrdhā, Kālanābha, Praheti, Heti, Ilvala, Śakuni, Bhūtasantāpa, Vajradaṁṣṭra, Virocana, Hayagrīva, Śaṅkuśirā, Kapila, Meghadundubhi, Tāraka, Cakradṛk, Śumbha, Niśumbha, Jambha, Utkala, Ariṣṭa, Ariṣṭanemi, Maya the lord of Tripura, the sons of Puloma, the Kāleyas, the Nivātakavacas, and others besides. Deprived of any share of amṛta, they had received only the toil of churning the ocean; yet on the battlefield they had many times conquered the devas. To rouse their armies they loosed lionlike roars and blew conchs with a thunderous din. Seeing these fierce, exultant rivals, Balabhit—Lord Indra—became exceedingly enraged.
FAQs
This verse highlights how the enemies’ pride and intoxication (utsikta) becomes a visible cause of escalation—provoking Indra’s intense anger and intensifying the conflict.
Indra saw his rival opponents acting arrogantly and triumphantly; their pride signaled aggression and disrespect, which stirred Indra’s wrath as the battle atmosphere surged.
Unchecked pride—whether in arguments, competition, or leadership—quickly triggers anger and hostility; cultivating humility and self-restraint prevents unnecessary escalation.