Shloka 26

Balarāma Slays Balvala and Visits Sacred Tīrthas; He Attempts to Stop Bhīma–Duryodhana

Devanagari script

युवां तुल्यबलौ वीरौ हे राजन् हे वृकोदर । एकं प्राणाधिकं मन्ये उतैकं शिक्षयाधिकम् ॥ २६ ॥

Transliteration

yuvāṁ tulya-balau vīrau he rājan he vṛkodara ekaṁ prāṇādhikaṁ manye utaikaṁ śikṣayādhikam

Translation

[Lord Balarāma said:] O King Duryodhana, and O Vṛkodara Bhīma! You two heroes are equal in martial might. Yet I perceive that one excels in bodily strength, while the other excels in training and technique.

Synonyms

• युवाम्: you two
• युवाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), द्विवचन (Dual); (युष्मद्-प्रयोग)

• तुल्य: equal
• तुल्य: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तुल्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन (समासाङ्ग)

• बलौ: in strength
• बलौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (Dual) (समासाङ्ग)

• तुल्यबलौ: equal in strength
• तुल्यबलौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तुल्य (प्रातिपदिक) + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: ‘तुल्यं बलं ययोः’; पुंलिङ्ग प्रथमा द्विवचन; विशेषण (of युवाम्)

• वीरौ: O heroes
• वीरौ: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वीर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; संबोधनार्थे विशेषणवत्

• हे: O
• हे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हे (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बोधन-निपात (vocative particle)

• राजन्: O king
• राजन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

• हे: O
• हे: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हे (अव्यय)
• Form: सम्बोधन-निपात (vocative particle)

• वृकोदर: O Vṛkodara (Bhīma)
• वृकोदर: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृकोदर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (epithet: ‘वृक इव उदरं यस्य’), पुंलिङ्ग सम्बोधन एकवचन

• एकम्: one (point)
• एकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘one (thing)’

• प्राण: life/breath
• प्राण: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रातिपदिक (समासाङ्ग)

• अधिकम्: superior/more
• अधिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘more/superior’

• प्राणाधिकम्: greater in vitality
• प्राणाधिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्राण (प्रातिपदिक) + अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (तुलनार्थ/अधिकरण): ‘प्राणेन अधिकम्’ (superior in vitality); नपुंसकलिङ्ग द्वितीया एकवचन (qualifying एकम्)

• मन्ये: I think
• मन्ये: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मन् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), एकवचन

• उत: and/also
• उत: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उत (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/विकल्पार्थक-निपात (and/also/or)

• एकम्: one (point)
• एकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘one (point)’

• शिक्षया: by training/skill
• शिक्षया: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिक्षा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन

• अधिकम्: superior
• अधिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• शिक्षयाधिकम्: greater by training
• शिक्षयाधिकम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शिक्षा (प्रातिपदिक) + अधिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (तृतीया-सम्बन्ध): ‘शिक्षया अधिकम्’ (superior by training); नपुंसकलिङ्ग द्वितीया एकवचन (qualifying एकम्)

Purport

Bhīma was physically more powerful, but Duryodhana was more advanced in terms of technique.

Characters & Entities

• Bhīma (Vṛkodara)
• King (likely Yudhiṣṭhira addressed as rājan in context)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about real strength—power or training?

This verse distinguishes two dimensions of strength: raw vitality and stamina (prāṇa) versus cultivated skill through instruction and discipline (śikṣā), implying both matter in kṣatriya conduct.

Why is Bhīma called Vṛkodara in the Bhagavatam?

Vṛkodara is Bhīma’s epithet meaning “wolf-bellied,” highlighting his immense appetite and extraordinary bodily power, often used in epic and Purāṇic narration.

Practical application of prāṇa and śikṣā in modern life according to this shloka?

Balance natural energy and resilience (health, steadiness, stamina) with systematic learning and coaching (skill-building, practice, discipline) rather than relying on only one.