Shloka 3

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

Devanagari script

तं विलोक्य बृहत्कायं भिन्नाञ्जनचयोपमम् । तप्तताम्रशिखाश्मश्रुं दंष्ट्रोग्रभ्रुकुटीमुखम् ॥ ३ ॥ सस्मार मूषलं राम: परसैन्यविदारणम् । हलं च दैत्यदमनं ते तूर्णमुपतस्थतु: ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

taṁ vilokya bṛhat-kāyaṁ bhinnāñjana-cayopamam tapta-tāmra-śikhā-śmaśruṁ daṁṣṭrogra-bhru-kuṭī-mukham

Translation

The immense demon resembled a mass of black carbon. His topknot and beard were like molten copper, and his face had horrible fangs and furrowed eyebrows. Upon seeing him, Lord Balarāma thought of His club, which tears to pieces His enemies’ armies, and His plow weapon, which punishes the demons. Thus summoned, His two weapons appeared before Him at once.

Synonyms

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Dvitīyā (Accusative, 2nd), Ekavacana; pronoun

• vilokya: having seen
• vilokya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vi-√lok (धातु) + lyap (ल्यप्)
• Form: Absolutive (gerund), avyaya; prior action

• bṛhat-kāyam: of huge body
• bṛhat-kāyam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bṛhat (प्रातिपदिक) + kāya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; qualifies tam

• bhinna-añjana-caya-upamam: resembling a heap of broken collyrium (pitch-black mass)
• bhinna-añjana-caya-upamam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhinna (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + añjana (प्रातिपदिक) + caya (प्रातिपदिक) + upama (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; (upamā-vācaka: 'like a heap of split collyrium/black pigment') qualifies tam

• tapta-tāmra-śikhā-śmaśrum: with hair and beard like heated copper
• tapta-tāmra-śikhā-śmaśrum: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: tapta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + tāmra (प्रातिपदिक) + śikhā (प्रातिपदिक) + śmaśru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; bahu-padī karmadhāraya describing hair/tuft and beard as 'like heated copper'

• daṁṣṭrā-ugra-bhru-kuṭī-mukham: with a face of fierce fangs and knitted brows
• daṁṣṭrā-ugra-bhru-kuṭī-mukham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daṁṣṭrā (प्रातिपदिक) + ugra (प्रातिपदिक) + bhru (प्रातिपदिक) + kuṭī (प्रातिपदिक) + mukha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; descriptive compound: 'face with fierce fangs and knitted brows' qualifies tam

• sasmāra: remembered/called to mind
• sasmāra: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: smṛ (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (Perfect), Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana, Parasmaipada

• mūṣalam: the club (pestle-weapon)
• mūṣalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūṣala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṁsakaliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• rāmaḥ: Rāma (Balarāma)
• rāmaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rāma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• para-sainya-vidāraṇam: that which tears apart the enemy army
• para-sainya-vidāraṇam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक) + sainya (प्रातिपदिक) + vidāraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṁsakaliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; qualifies mūṣalam; (tatpuruṣa: 'that which rends the enemy-army')

• halam: the plough (weapon)
• halam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṁsakaliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• ca: and
• ca: Samuccaya-bodhaka (समुच्चय-बोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; conjunction

• daitya-damanam: the demon-subduing (one)
• daitya-damanam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: daitya (प्रातिपदिक) + damana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṁsakaliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; qualifies halam; (tatpuruṣa: 'subduer of demons')

• te: those two (weapons)
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Dvivacana (Dual); pronoun referring to the two weapons

• tūrṇam: quickly
• tūrṇam: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tūrṇam (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (manner/speed)

• upatasthatuḥ: came to him/appeared (were at hand)
• upatasthatuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: upa-√sthā (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (Perfect), Prathama-puruṣa, Dvivacana (Dual), Parasmaipada

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Balarāma
• Dvivida

FAQs

Who is Dvivida in Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 10?

Dvivida is a powerful ass-like demon who terrorizes the Lord’s people; this verse describes his fearsome appearance as he confronts Lord Balarāma.

Why does the Bhagavatam describe a demon’s appearance in such detail?

The vivid description highlights asuric nature—ferocity, arrogance, and terror—setting the contrast with the Lord’s protective presence and the inevitable defeat of adharma.

What is the practical lesson from Balarama facing Dvivida?

When harm and chaos arise, devotees remember the Lord’s protection: adharma may appear frightening, but it is ultimately overcome by divine strength and steadfast righteousness.