Shloka 3

Chapter 54

Devanagari script

अश्वपृष्ठे गजस्कन्धे रथोपस्थेऽस्त्रकोविदाः ।

मुमुचुः शरवर्षाणि मेघा अद्रिष्वपो यथा ॥

Transliteration

aśva-pṛṣṭhe gaja-skandhe rathopasthe 'stra kovidāḥ / mumucuḥ śara-varṣāṇi meghā adriṣv apo yathā //

Translation

Expert warriors on horses, elephants, and chariots released torrents of arrows—like clouds pouring sheets of rain upon the mountains.

Synonyms

• अश्व-पृष्ठे: on the horse’s back
• अश्व-पृष्ठे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अश्व (प्रातिपदिक) + पृष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषः (अश्वस्य पृष्ठे); नपुंसकलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; Locative singular neuter

• गज-स्कन्धे: on the elephant’s shoulder
• गज-स्कन्धे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज (प्रातिपदिक) + स्कन्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषः (गजस्य स्कन्धे); पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; Locative singular masculine

• रथ-उपस्थे: on the chariot-seat
• रथ-उपस्थे: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रथ (प्रातिपदिक) + उपस्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सप्तमी-तत्पुरुषः (रथस्य उपस्थे); पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, एकवचनम्; Locative singular masculine

• अस्त्र-कोविदाः: experts in weapons
• अस्त्र-कोविदाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + कोविद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषः (अस्त्रेषु कोविदाः); पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; Nominative plural masculine

• मुमुचुः: released
• मुमुचुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √मुच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकारः (Perfect), प्रथमा-पुरुषः (3rd), बहुवचनम्; Perfect active ‘released/let loose’

• शर-वर्षाणि: showers of arrows
• शर-वर्षाणि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर (प्रातिपदिक) + वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुषः (शराणां वर्षाणि); नपुंसकलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; Accusative plural neuter

• मेघाः: clouds
• मेघाः: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मेघ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; Nominative plural masculine

• अद्रिषु: on mountains
• अद्रिषु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अद्रि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, सप्तमी-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; Locative plural masculine

• अपः: waters
• अपः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अप् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गे, द्वितीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; Accusative plural feminine (irregular stem ‘ap’)

• यथा: as
• यथा: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमाद्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-अव्ययम् (comparative particle); ‘as/like’

Purport

This verse paints the battlefield as a vast, overwhelming spectacle. The Bhāgavatam uses a natural metaphor—clouds raining over mountains—to convey both the density and inevitability of the arrow-shower. The warriors are described as astra-kovidāḥ, skilled in weapons, indicating trained martial discipline rather than chaotic violence. Yet, despite the formidable display of military power, the narrative context of Canto 10 repeatedly teaches that material strength, strategy, and weaponry cannot override the Supreme Lord’s will. In Kṛṣṇa-līlā, such scenes highlight the contrast between human pride in force and the ultimate sovereignty of Bhagavān, who protects His devotees and fulfills His divine purpose.

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the intensity of battle in Krishna-lila?

This verse compares the arrow-shower to rainclouds pouring on mountains, showing the battle’s overwhelming intensity while implying that such force still remains under the Lord’s control.

Who is speaking these battlefield descriptions in Bhagavatam Canto 10?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī narrates these events to Mahārāja Parīkṣit as part of the Rukmiṇī-haraṇa narrative.

Practical application: what is the lesson of ‘arrows like rain’ for modern life?

When pressures come in torrents, the Bhāgavatam reminds us that skill and strength matter, but refuge in Bhagavān and steadiness in dharma are ultimately sustaining.