Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 24

Balarāma Slays the Ape Dvivida

Dvivida-vadha

Devanagari script

स बाहू तालसङ्काशौ मुष्टीकृत्य कपीश्वर: । आसाद्य रोहिणीपुत्रं ताभ्यां वक्षस्यरूरुजत् ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

sa bāhū tāla-saṅkāśau muṣṭī-kṛtya kapīśvaraḥ āsādya rohiṇī-putraṁ tābhyāṁ vakṣasy arūrujat

Translation

Dvivida, lord of the apes, clenched his fists at the ends of arms like palm trees, came before Śrī Balarāma, the son of Rohiṇī, and struck the Lord’s chest with his blows.

Synonyms

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• bāhū: (his) two arms
• bāhū: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bāhu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), द्विवचन

• tāla-saṅkāśau: like palm-trees
• tāla-saṅkāśau: Karma (कर्म/Object—qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tāla (प्रातिपदिक) + saṅkāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, द्विवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (ताल इव सङ्काशौ)

• muṣṭī-kṛtya: clenching into fists
• muṣṭī-kṛtya: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: muṣṭī (प्रातिपदिक) + √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund), अव्ययभाव; 'having made into fists'

• kapīśvaraḥ: the lord of monkeys
• kapīśvaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kapi (प्रातिपदिक) + īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (कपीनाम् ईश्वरः)

• āsādya: having approached
• āsādya: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√sad (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Gerund), अव्ययभाव; 'having approached/reached'

• rohiṇī-putram: Rohiṇī’s son (Balarāma)
• rohiṇī-putram: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rohiṇī (प्रातिपदिक) + putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (रोहिण्याः पुत्रः)

• tābhyām: with those two
• tābhyām: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्री/पुं/नपुंसक, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), द्विवचन; सर्वनाम (refers to the two fists/arms)

• vakṣasi: on the chest
• vakṣasi: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vakṣas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/Locative), एकवचन

• arūrujat: struck/hurt
• arūrujat: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-√ruj (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

Characters & Entities

• Dvivida
• Balarāma
• Rohiṇī

FAQs

Who is Dvivida in Srimad Bhagavatam and what does he do to Balarama?

Dvivida is a powerful ape-like miscreant described as a destroyer of dharma; in this verse he rushes at Balarāma and strikes Him on the chest with clenched fists.

Why does Dvivida attack Rohini’s son (Balarama) in Canto 10?

Within the chapter’s narrative, Dvivida acts as a violent disturber of society and challenges the Lord; his aggression culminates in directly attacking Balarāma, leading to his punishment.

What is the practical lesson from Balarama facing Dvivida’s attack?

Even when confronted by forceful hostility, the Lord’s devotee remembers that adharma ultimately fails; steadfastness and alignment with dharma prevail over intimidation.