Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 23

The Syamantaka Jewel: Accusation, Recovery, and Kṛṣṇa’s Marriage to Satyabhāmā

Devanagari script

द्वन्द्वयुद्धं सुतुमुलमुभयोर्विजिगीषतो: । आयुधाश्मद्रुमैर्दोर्भि: क्रव्यार्थे श्येनयोरिव ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

dvandva-yuddhaṁ su-tumulam ubhayor vijigīṣatoḥ āyudhāśma-drumair dorbhiḥ kravyārthe śyenayor iva

Translation

The two fought furiously in single combat, each determined to win. Contending against each other with various weapons and then with stones, tree trunks and finally their bare arms, they struggled like two hawks battling over a piece of flesh.

Synonyms

• dvandva-yuddham: a duel
• dvandva-yuddham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvandva + yuddha (द्वन्द्व-प्रातिपदिक + युद्ध-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: द्वन्द्वं युद्धम् (single combat)

• su-tumulam: very fierce
• su-tumulam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: su + tumula (सु-उपसर्ग/अव्यय + तुमुल-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन); कर्मधारय: सुतुमुलम् = अतितुमुलम् (very tumultuous)

• ubhayor: of both (combatants)
• ubhayor: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ubhaya (उभय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Dual (द्विवचन); of both

• vijigīṣatoḥ: of the two who wished to win
• vijigīṣatoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vijigīṣu (विजिगीषु-प्रातिपदिक; desiderative from ji √जि)
• Form: Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Dual (द्विवचन); present active participle/desiderative adjective: ‘desiring to conquer’

• āyudha-aśma-drumaiḥ: with weapons, stones, and trees
• āyudha-aśma-drumaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: āyudha + aśman + druma (आयुध-प्रातिपदिक + अश्मन्-प्रातिपदिक + द्रुम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Plural (बहुवचन); द्वन्द्व (समाहार/इतरेतर): with weapons, stones, and trees

• dorbhiḥ: with (their) arms
• dorbhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dor (दोर्/दोर्-प्रातिपदिक, ‘arm’)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Plural (बहुवचन)

• kravya-arthe: for flesh (prey)
• kravya-arthe: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kravya + artha (क्रव्य-प्रातिपदिक + अर्थ-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular (एकवचन); तत्पुरुष: क्रव्यस्य अर्थे (for flesh)

• śyenayoḥ: of two hawks
• śyenayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śyena (श्येन-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Dual (द्विवचन)

• iva: like
• iva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Simile particle (उपमा-अव्यय)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about fierce duels and the desire to win?

This verse describes how intense rivalry and the will to conquer can escalate into a violent, chaotic duel—illustrated by the hawks fighting over flesh—highlighting the consuming nature of victory-driven conflict.

Who is speaking this verse in Bhagavatam 10.56.23, and to whom?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī speaks this narration to Mahārāja Parīkṣit while recounting the events surrounding the Syamantaka jewel episode in Canto 10, Chapter 56.

How can a devotee apply the lesson of this verse in modern life?

It cautions against letting competitiveness and ego turn disagreements into destructive battles; a devotee can choose restraint, seek truthful resolution, and keep dharma and devotion above the urge to “win.”