Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 23

Indra Slays Namuci—The Limits of Power and the Triumph of Divine Strategy

Devanagari script

नमुचि: पञ्चदशभि: स्वर्णपुङ्खैर्महेषुभि: । आहत्य व्यनदत्सङ्ख्ये सतोय इव तोयद: ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

namuciḥ pañca-daśabhiḥ svarṇa-puṅkhair maheṣubhiḥ āhatya vyanadat saṅkhye satoya iva toyadaḥ

Translation

Then Namuci, another asura, struck Śakra (Indra) with fifteen mighty arrows tipped with golden feathers, wounding him, and roared in battle like a cloud heavy with rainwater.

Synonyms

• नमुचिः: Namuci (a demon)
• नमुचिः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नमुचि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• पञ्च-दशभिः: with fifteen
• पञ्च-दशभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: पञ्च (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक) + दश (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (सामान्यतः), तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; संख्या-समाहारः ‘with fifteen’ (पञ्चदश = 15)

• स्वर्ण-पुङ्खैः: with golden-feathered (arrows)
• स्वर्ण-पुङ्खैः: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स्वर्ण (प्रातिपदिक) + पुङ्ख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः ‘having golden feathers/shafts’

• मह-इषुभिः: with great arrows
• मह-इषुभिः: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक) + इषु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; कर्मधारयः ‘great arrows’

• आहत्य: having struck
• आहत्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ-हन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund/absolutive) ‘having struck’

• व्यनदत्: roared
• व्यनदत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: व्य्-अनद्/नद् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; ‘roared/sounded’

• सङ्ख्ये: in battle
• सङ्ख्ये: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सङ्ख्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘in battle’

• स-तोयः: water-laden
• स-तोयः: Upamāna-viśeṣaṇa (उपमान-विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तोय (प्रातिपदिक) + स (सह-भाव)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘with water’

• इव: like
• इव: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमा-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमा-प्रदर्शक (comparative particle)

• तोयदः: a cloud
• तोयदः: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तोयद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘water-giver’ = cloud

Characters & Entities

• Namuci

FAQs

Who is Namuci in Srimad Bhagavatam and what does he do in the battle?

Namuci is an asura (demon) warrior; in this verse he strikes with fifteen powerful, golden-feathered arrows and then roars loudly on the battlefield.

What is the meaning of the comparison to a raincloud in Bhagavatam 8.11.23?

The verse compares Namuci’s roar to the rumbling of a water-laden cloud, emphasizing the force and intimidation of his battle cry.

What practical lesson can be taken from this battle description in the Bhagavata Purana?

It highlights how material power and intimidation can appear overwhelming in conflict, yet the Bhagavatam’s broader narrative teaches reliance on dharma and the Lord’s protection rather than fear of outward strength.