Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 30

Bali Mahārāja Upholds Truth; Vāmana Reveals the Universal Form and Takes the Two Steps

Devanagari script

सर्वात्मनीदं भुवनं निरीक्ष्य सर्वेऽसुरा: कश्मलमापुरङ्ग । सुदर्शनं चक्रमसह्यतेजो धनुश्च शार्ङ्गं स्तनयित्नुघोषम् ॥ ३० ॥

Transliteration

sarvātmanīdaṁ bhuvanaṁ nirīkṣya sarve ’surāḥ kaśmalam āpur aṅga sudarśanaṁ cakram asahya-tejo dhanuś ca śārṅgaṁ stanayitnu-ghoṣam

Translation

O King, when all the asuras who followed Bali beheld the Lord’s virāṭ form, which held the entire universe within His body, and when they saw in His hand the Sudarśana cakra blazing with intolerable heat and heard the thunderous roar of His Śārṅga bow, their hearts were seized by lamentation and dread.

Synonyms

• sarvātmani: in the all-pervading Self
• sarvātmani: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक) + ātman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; tatpuruṣa: sarva-ātman = 'the all-self' (Supreme Self)

• idam: this
• idam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; pronoun

• bhuvanam: world/universe
• bhuvanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhuvana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• nirīkṣya: having beheld
• nirīkṣya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nir-īkṣ (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा/ल्यप्), 'having seen/observed'

• sarve: all
• sarve: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• asurāḥ: demons/asuras
• asurāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• kaśmalam: confusion/terror
• kaśmalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kaśmala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• āpuḥ: attained
• āpuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: āp (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural; 'they attained'

• aṅga: O dear (address)
• aṅga: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: aṅga (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle/vocative interjection (सम्बोधन-निपात)

• sudarśanam: Sudarśana
• sudarśanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: su (उपसर्ग/प्रातिपदिक) + darśana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; name of the discus

• cakram: discus
• cakram: Apposition (समनाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cakra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• asahya-tejaḥ: of unbearable brilliance
• asahya-tejaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-sahya (प्रातिपदिक) + tejas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; karmadhāraya: 'unbearable in splendor' qualifying cakram

• dhanuḥ: bow
• dhanuḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhanus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• ca: and
• ca: —
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction (समुच्चय)

• śārṅgam: Śārṅga
• śārṅgam: Apposition (समनाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śārṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; proper name of Viṣṇu's bow

• stanayitnu-ghoṣam: thundering-sounding
• stanayitnu-ghoṣam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: stanayitnu (प्रातिपदिक) + ghoṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; tatpuruṣa: 'thunder-like sound' qualifying śārṅgam/dhanuḥ

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Viṣṇu (the Supreme Lord)
• Sudarśana Cakra
• Śārṅga Bow
• Asuras (demons)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Sudarśana Cakra?

This verse describes Sudarśana as unbearably radiant, a direct manifestation of the Lord’s irresistible power that overwhelms demonic opposition.

Why were the asuras afraid when Lord Viṣṇu appeared?

Because they recognized the Supreme Soul behind the cosmos and saw His divine weapons—Sudarśana and Śārṅga—whose splendor and thunder-like presence signaled their inevitable defeat.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Remembering the Lord as the indwelling controller reduces fear and confusion; taking shelter of His protection (through prayer and devotion) steadies the mind when facing powerful obstacles.