Shloka 16

The Slaying of Narakāsura (Bhaumāsura), Rescue of the Princesses, and the Pārijāta Episode Begins

Devanagari script

तद् भौमसैन्यं भगवान् गदाग्रजो विचित्रवाजैर्निशितै: शिलीमुखै: । निकृत्तबाहूरुशिरोध्रविग्रहं चकार तर्ह्येव हताश्वकुञ्जरम् ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

tad bhauma-sainyaṁ bhagavān gadāgrajo vicitra-vājair niśitaiḥ śilīmukhaiḥ nikṛtta-bāhūru-śirodhra-vigrahaṁ cakāra tarhy eva hatāśva-kuñjaram

Translation

At that moment Lord Gadagraja shot His sharp arrows at Bhaumasura’s army. These arrows, displaying variegated feathers, soon reduced that army to a mass of bodies with severed arms, thighs and necks. The Lord similarly killed the opposing horses and elephants.

Synonyms

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण of sainyam

• bhauma-sainyam: Bhauma’s army
• bhauma-sainyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhauma-sainya (प्रातिपदिक: bhauma + sainya)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (Bhauma’s army)

• bhagavān: the Lord
• bhagavān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)

• gadāgrajaḥ: the elder brother of Gadā (Kṛṣṇa)
• gadāgrajaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gadā-agraja (प्रातिपदिक: gadā + agraja)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (elder brother of Gadā)

• vicitra-vājaiḥ: with variegated/strangely-feathered
• vicitra-vājaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vicitra-vāja (प्रातिपदिक: vicitra + vāja)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषण of śilīmukhaiḥ

• niśitaiḥ: sharp
• niśitaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: niśita (प्रातिपदिक; PPP of ni-śā)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP) = sharpened

• śilīmukhaiḥ: arrows
• śilīmukhaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śilīmukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)

• nikṛtta-bāhu-ūru-śirodhra-vigraham: (army) whose arms, thighs, heads, and bodies were cut down
• nikṛtta-bāhu-ūru-śirodhra-vigraham: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nikṛtta + bāhu + ūru + śiras + dhra + vigraha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); बहुव्रीहि—‘यस्य ...’ (whose arms, thighs, heads, and bodies were cut down); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त ‘नि + कृद्/कृत्’

• cakāra: he made/rendered
• cakāra: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: kṛ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमा-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद

• tarhi: then
• tarhi: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tarhi (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (temporal adverb)

• eva: indeed/just
• eva: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: eva (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• hata-aśva-kuñjaram: (army) with horses and elephants slain
• hata-aśva-kuñjaram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hata + aśva + kuñjara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त ‘हन्’ (slain) + द्वन्द्व-समाहारार्थ तत्पुरुष (horses and elephants slain)

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Bhauma (Narakāsura)
• Balarāma

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna defeating Narakasura’s army?

This verse describes how Śrī Kṛṣṇa swiftly destroyed Bhauma (Narakāsura)’s forces with sharp arrows, cutting down their bodies and killing their horses and elephants—showing the Lord’s effortless victory over adharma.

Why is Krishna called “gadāgraja” in this verse?

“Gadāgraja” means “the elder brother of Gadā,” a poetic way to identify Kṛṣṇa through His relationship with Balarāma (Gadā’s elder brother), commonly used in epic-Purāṇic Sanskrit style.

Practical application of this verse in modern life?

The verse reminds a devotee that when one takes shelter of Bhagavān, destructive forces of adharma are ultimately overcome; it inspires courage, faith, and steadiness in righteous action.