Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 41

Bhāgavata-Māhātmya and the Complete Summary of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam

Devanagari script

चैद्यपौण्ड्रकशाल्वानां दन्तवक्रस्य दुर्मते: । शम्बरो द्विविद: पीठो मुर: पञ्चजनादय: ॥ ४० ॥ माहात्म्यं च वधस्तेषां वाराणस्याश्च दाहनम् । भारावतरणं भूमेर्निमित्तीकृत्य पाण्डवान् ॥ ४१ ॥

Transliteration

caidya-pauṇḍraka-śālvānāṁ dantavakrasya durmateḥ śambaro dvividaḥ pīṭho muraḥ pañcajanādayaḥ

Translation

It describes the prowess and deaths of the king of Cedi, Pauṇḍraka, Śālva, the foolish Dantavakra, and also Śambara, Dvivida, Pīṭha, Mura, Pañcajana and other demons, along with the burning of Vārāṇasī. It further tells how Lord Kṛṣṇa lightened the earth’s burden by making the Pāṇḍavas the instrument of the Kurukṣetra war.

Synonyms

• caidya-pauṇḍraka-śālvānām: of (Caidya,) Pauṇḍraka and Śālva
• caidya-pauṇḍraka-śālvānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caidya + pauṇḍraka + śālva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), बहुवचन (Plural), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine); समाहार-द्वन्द्व/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (list of names)

• dantavakrasya: of Dantavakra
• dantavakrasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dantavakra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine); कर्मधारयः (danta-vakra = 'crooked-toothed', proper name)

• durmateḥ: of the evil-minded (one)
• durmateḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: durmati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive/सम्बन्ध), एकवचन (Singular), स्त्रीलिङ्ग (Feminine); 'दुर्मति' = evil-mindedness/evil-minded person (here epithet)

• śambaraḥ: Śambara
• śambaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śambara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (Nominative/प्रथमा), एकवचन (Singular), पुंलिङ्ग (Masculine)

• dvividaḥ: Dvivida
• dvividaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dvivida (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• pīṭhaḥ: Pīṭha
• pīṭhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pīṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• muraḥ: Mura
• muraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• pañcajana-ādayaḥ: Pañcajana and others
• pañcajana-ādayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pañcajana + ādi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (Nominative), बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; तत्पुरुषः (ādayaḥ = 'and others beginning with', pañcajana as first item)

• māhātmyam: the greatness (glory)
• māhātmyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: māhātmya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• vadhaḥ: the killing
• vadhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vadha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• teṣām: of them
• teṣām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive), बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग/सर्वलिङ्ग (pronoun)

• vārāṇasyāḥ: of Vārāṇasī
• vārāṇasyāḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vārāṇasī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• dāhanam: the burning (conflagration)
• dāhanam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāhana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग

• bhāra-avataraṇam: the unloading (removal) of the burden
• bhāra-avataraṇam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhāra + avataraṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा/द्वितीया (Nom/Acc), एकवचन, नपुंसकलिङ्ग; तत्पुरुषः (bhārasya avataraṇam = removal of burden)

• bhūmeḥ: of the earth
• bhūmeḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhūmi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन, स्त्रीलिङ्ग

• nimittīkṛtya: having made (them) the instrument/cause
• nimittīkṛtya: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni + √mā (मा) / √kṛ (कृ) with kṛt suffix; nimitta + √kṛ (कृ) (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), 'nimittī-kṛtya' = having made (as) the instrument/cause

• pāṇḍavān: the Pāṇḍavas
• pāṇḍavān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pāṇḍava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

Characters & Entities

• Pāṇḍavas
• Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna removing the burden of the earth (bhārāvataraṇa)?

This verse states that the Bhāgavatam describes how the Lord relieved the earth’s burden by arranging the destruction of oppressive forces, while making the Pāṇḍavas the visible instruments in that divine plan.

Why does the Bhagavatam say the Pāṇḍavas were made instruments (nimitta) by the Lord?

Because the Lord’s will is supreme, yet He often accomplishes His purposes through His devotees and righteous kings; the Pāṇḍavas acted as His chosen agents in restoring dharma.

Practical application of 'being an instrument of God' in modern life?

Serve dharma without ego—do your duty sincerely, offer results to the Lord, and act as a channel for compassion, justice, and spiritual values.