Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 13

Viśvarūpa’s Death, Vṛtrāsura’s Manifestation, and the Devas’ Surrender to Nārāyaṇa

Devanagari script

विष्वग्विवर्धमानं तमिषुमात्रं दिने दिने । दग्धशैलप्रतीकाशं सन्ध्याभ्रानीकवर्चसम् ॥ १३ ॥ तप्तताम्रशिखाश्मश्रुं मध्याह्नार्कोग्रलोचनम् ॥ १४ ॥ देदीप्यमाने त्रिशिखे शूल आरोप्य रोदसी । नृत्यन्तमुन्नदन्तं च चालयन्तं पदा महीम् ॥ १५ ॥ दरीगम्भीरवक्त्रेण पिबता च नभस्तलम् । लिहता जिह्वयर्क्षाणि ग्रसता भुवनत्रयम् ॥ १६ ॥ महता रौद्रदंष्ट्रेण जृम्भमाणं मुहुर्मुहु: । वित्रस्ता दुद्रुवुर्लोका वीक्ष्य सर्वे दिशो दश ॥ १७ ॥

Transliteration

viṣvag vivardhamānaṁ tam iṣu-mātraṁ dine dine dagdha-śaila-pratīkāśaṁ sandhyābhrānīka-varcasam

Translation

Like arrows loosed to the four quarters, the demon’s body expanded day by day. Tall and dark as a burnt hill, he shone like a radiant mass of evening clouds; his hair, beard, and moustache were the color of molten copper, and his eyes were fierce like the midday sun.

Synonyms

• viṣvak: in all directions, everywhere
• viṣvak: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: viṣvak (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• vivardhamānam: growing, increasing
• vivardhamānam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi√vṛdh (धातु) + śatṛ (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present active participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• tam: him/that (object)
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• iṣu-mātram: (only) arrow-sized, of the measure of an arrow
• iṣu-mātram: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: iṣu (प्रातिपदिक) + mātra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (परिमाण/प्रमाण-निर्देशः), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया विभक्ति, एकवचन

• dine: in a day
• dine: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dina (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; अधिकरणम् (locative)

• dine: day by day
• dine: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dina (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी विभक्ति, एकवचन; पुनरुक्तिः (reduplication for emphasis)

• dagdha-śaila-pratīkāśam: resembling a burnt mountain
• dagdha-śaila-pratīkāśam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dagdha (√dah, क्त-कृदन्त) + śaila (प्रातिपदिक) + pratīkāśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (उपमान/सादृश्य-निर्देशः: ‘दग्धशैलस्य प्रतिकाशः’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा एकवचन; विशेषणम्

• sandhyā-bhra-anīka-varcasam: having the radiance of twilight-cloud masses
• sandhyā-bhra-anīka-varcasam: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sandhyā (प्रातिपदिक) + bhra (प्रातिपदिक) + anīka (प्रातिपदिक) + varcas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (वर्ण/तेजः-निर्देशः: ‘सन्ध्याभ्राणीकस्य वर्चस्’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया/प्रथमा एकवचन; विशेषणम्

Characters & Entities

• Vṛtrāsura

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Vṛtrāsura’s form expanding?

This verse says his form grew in all directions day after day, beginning from the size of an arrow and becoming mountain-like and blazing.

Why is Vṛtrāsura described like a burnt mountain with twilight-cloud radiance?

Śukadeva uses vivid similes to convey overwhelming dread and supernatural power—his body looked scorched and immense, yet glowing like dense evening clouds.

Practical application: how should a devotee respond when confronted by fearsome situations?

The imagery teaches steadiness: external terror can appear to “grow,” but a devotee anchors the mind in dharma and remembrance of the Lord rather than panic.