Shloka 17

Uddhava’s Counsel: The Jarāsandha Resolution and Kṛṣṇa’s Arrival at Indraprastha

Devanagari script

बलं बृहद्ध्वजपटछत्रचामरै- र्वरायुधाभरणकिरीटवर्मभि: । दिवांशुभिस्तुमुलरवं बभौ रवे- र्यथार्णव: क्षुभिततिमिङ्गिलोर्मिभि: ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

balaṁ bṛhad-dhvaja-paṭa-chatra-cāmarair varāyudhābharaṇa-kirīṭa-varmabhiḥ divāṁśubhis tumula-ravaṁ babhau raver yathārṇavaḥ kṣubhita-timiṅgilormibhiḥ

Translation

The Lord’s army was adorned with great flagpoles and fluttering banners, royal umbrellas and cāmara fans. By day the sun’s rays flashed upon their fine weapons, ornaments, helmets and armor; amid shouts and clatter the host appeared like an ocean churned by restless waves and timiṅgila fish.

Synonyms

• बलम्: the army/force
• बलम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया (1st/2nd), एकवचन; अत्र प्रथमा (subject)

• बृहत्: great
• बृहत्: Karana-anvaya (करणविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बृहत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन (समासे पूर्वपदत्वेन) — great/large

• ध्वज: with banners
• ध्वज: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ध्वज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन (समासे)

• पट: with cloths/flags
• पट: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन (समासे)

• छत्र: with umbrellas
• छत्र: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: छत्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन (समासे)

• चामरैः: with yak-tail fans
• चामरैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चामर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• वर: excellent
• वर: Karana-anvaya (करणविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण; तृतीया, बहुवचन (समासे) — excellent

• आयुध: weapons
• आयुध: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आयुध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन (समासे)

• आभरण: ornaments
• आभरण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आभरण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन (समासे)

• किरीट: crowns/helmets
• किरीट: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किरीट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन (समासे)

• वर्मभिः: with armor
• वर्मभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

• दिवा-अंशुभिः: with daytime rays (i.e., bright gleams)
• दिवा-अंशुभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिवा (अव्यय) + अंशु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative) ‘दिवा’ (day) + ‘अंशु’ (ray); पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• तुमुल: tumultuous
• तुमुल: Karma-anvaya (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तुमुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: विशेषण; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन (रवम् विशेषयति)

• रवम्: sound/roar
• रवम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• बभौ: shone/appeared
• बभौ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भा (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• रवेः: of the sun
• रवेः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रवि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• यथा: as/like
• यथा: Upamana-dyotaka (उपमानद्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमानार्थक (comparative)

• अर्णवः: ocean
• अर्णवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्णव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• क्षुभित: agitated
• क्षुभित: Karana-anvaya (करणविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षुभित (कृदन्त; √क्षुभ् (धातु))
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (PPP), स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन (ऊर्मिभिः विशेषयति) — agitated

• तिमिङ्गिल: by timiṅgila (huge fish)
• तिमिङ्गिल: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तिमिङ्गिल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन (समासे) — huge fish/whales

• ऊर्मिभिः: with waves
• ऊर्मिभिः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऊर्मि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Balarāma

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna’s royal army and opulence in Canto 10?

This verse depicts Kṛṣṇa’s accompanying force as brilliant and majestic—filled with banners, parasols, fans, weapons and armor—roaring loudly and flashing in sunlight, emphasizing His divine sovereignty even while performing human-like pastimes.

Why is Krishna’s army compared to the ocean with timiṅgila creatures?

Śukadeva uses a vivid simile: the army’s roar and shimmering movement resemble the ocean’s thunderous agitation when great waves toss enormous sea-creatures—highlighting the overwhelming power and splendor surrounding Kṛṣṇa.

Practical application: what can devotees learn from this description of Krishna’s grandeur?

It reminds a devotee that true protection and order (dharma) rest with the Supreme Lord; seeing Kṛṣṇa as the ultimate ruler helps cultivate faith, humility, and steadiness amid life’s “tumult.”