Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 22
Dadhīci’s Supreme Charity and the Opening of Indra’s War with Vṛtrāsura
नमुचि: शम्बरोऽनर्वा द्विमूर्धा ऋषभोऽसुर: । हयग्रीव: शङ्कुशिरा विप्रचित्तिरयोमुख: ॥ १९ ॥ पुलोमा वृषपर्वा च प्रहेतिर्हेतिरुत्कल: । दैतेया दानवा यक्षा रक्षांसि च सहस्रश: ॥ २० ॥ सुमालिमालिप्रमुखा: कार्तस्वरपरिच्छदा: । प्रतिषिध्येन्द्रसेनाग्रं मृत्योरपि दुरासदम् ॥ २१ ॥ अभ्यर्दयन्नसम्भ्रान्ता: सिंहनादेन दुर्मदा: । गदाभि: परिघैर्बाणै: प्रासमुद्गरतोमरै: ॥ २२ ॥
namuciḥ śambaro ’narvā dvimūrdhā ṛṣabho ’suraḥ hayagrīvaḥ śaṅkuśirā vipracittir ayomukhaḥ
Hundreds and thousands of daityas and dānavas, Yakṣas and Rākṣasas—led by Sumālī and Māli, adorned with golden ornaments—held back the vanguard of Indra’s army, a force that even Death personified can scarcely assail. Among them were Namuci, Śambara, Anarvā, Dvimūrdhā, Ṛṣabha, Hayagrīva, Śaṅkuśirā, Vipracitti, Ayomukha, Pulomā, Vṛṣaparvā, Praheti, Heti, and Utkala. Roaring like lions, fearless and intoxicated with pride, they tormented the devas with clubs, iron bludgeons, arrows, spears, mallets, and lances.
FAQs
They are prominent asuras (demons) described here as joining the demoniac forces in the great battle narrated in Canto 6, Chapter 10.
To show the scale and intensity of the conflict—many powerful leaders of the demoniac side gathered to oppose Indra’s army.
It reminds us that obstacles can appear in many forms; steadiness in dharma and devotion is required when opposition gathers strength.