Shloka 42

Deva–Asura Battle after the Nectar; Bali’s Illusions and Hari’s Intervention

Devanagari script

स तानापतत: शक्रस्तावद्भ‍ि: शीघ्रविक्रम: । चिच्छेद निशितैर्भल्ल‍ैरसम्प्राप्तान्हसन्निव ॥ ४२ ॥

Transliteration

sa tān āpatataḥ śakras tāvadbhiḥ śīghra-vikramaḥ ciccheda niśitair bhallair asamprāptān hasann iva

Translation

Before Bali Mahārāja’s arrows could reach him, Indra, King of heaven, who is expert in dealing with arrows, smiled and counteracted the arrows with arrows of another type, known as bhalla, which were extremely sharp.

Synonyms

• सः: he
• सः: कर्ता (Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तान्: them
• तान्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), बहुवचन — Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• आपततः: as they were rushing/attacking
• आपततः: विशेषण (to तान्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√पत् (धातु) → आपतत् (कृदन्त, शतृ)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन — Present active participle; Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• शक्रः: Śakra (Indra)
• शक्रः: कर्ता (Subject apposition to सः)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शक्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• तावद्भिः: with just so many (i.e., equal number)
• तावद्भिः: विशेषण (to भल्लैः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तावत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन — Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• शीघ्र-विक्रमः: swift in prowess
• शीघ्र-विक्रमः: विशेषण (to शक्रः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शीघ्र (प्रातिपदिक) + विक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (शीघ्रः विक्रमः यस्य) — Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• चिच्छेद: cut off
• चिच्छेद: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √छिद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परिपूर्णभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद — Perfect, 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada

• निशितैः: with sharp
• निशितैः: विशेषण (to भल्लैः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निशित (कृदन्त, √शा/√शि?; ‘sharpened’ as adjective)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन — Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• भल्लैः: with bhalla-arrows
• भल्लैः: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भल्ल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन — Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• असम्प्राप्तान्: not yet reached (him)
• असम्प्राप्तान्: विशेषण (to तान्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ-सम्-प्र-√आप्/√प्राप् (धातु) → असम्प्राप्त (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त — Masculine, Accusative, Plural; past participle

• हसन्: laughing
• हसन्: क्रियाविशेषण (manner, to चिच्छेद)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हस् (धातु) → हसत् (कृदन्त, शतृ)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Present active participle; Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• इव: as if
• इव: सम्बन्ध (Simile marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानवाचक (particle of comparison) — Indeclinable; comparative particle

Characters & Entities

• Śakra (Indra)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Indra’s power in the Deva-Asura war?

This verse describes Indra’s swift strength: as the attackers charged, he severed them with sharp arrows even before they could reach him, showing decisive protection of the devas in battle.

Why is Indra called Śakra in the Bhagavatam?

Śakra is a well-known epithet for Indra, highlighting his might and rulership among the devas; here it underscores his quick, forceful response against the oncoming enemies.

Practical application of this shloka’s message in modern life?

Act promptly and decisively when facing harmful influences—cut off the cause before it “reaches” and overwhelms you—while keeping inner steadiness rather than panic.