Shloka 9

Harivaṁśa-saṅkṣepa: Kṛṣṇa’s Avatāra Deeds, Dynastic Continuity, and Post-departure Succession

Devanagari script

हरिशकरयोर्यत्र महायुद्धं बभूव ह / बाणबाहुसहस्रञ्च च्छिन्नं बाहुद्वयं ह्यभूत्

Transliteration

hariśakarayoryatra mahāyuddhaṃ babhūva ha / bāṇabāhusahasrañca cchinnaṃ bāhudvayaṃ hyabhūt

Translation

There, a great battle took place between Hari (Viṣṇu) and Śaṅkara (Śiva); and Bāṇa’s thousand arms were cut down, leaving him with only two arms.

Word by Word

• हरि-शकरयोः: of Hari and Śaṅkara
• हरि-शकरयोः: Sambandha (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि + शकर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी/सप्तमी-द्विवचन (योः); द्वन्द्व-समासः: हरिः च शकरः च; ‘of Hari and Śaṅkara’

• यत्र: where
• यत्र: Adhikarana (Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (relative adverb of place)

• महायुद्धम्: a great battle
• महायुद्धम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + युद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः: महत् युद्धम् (a great battle)

• बभूव: occurred
• बभूव: Kriya (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदम्; ‘occurred/was’

• ह: indeed
• ह: Sambandha (Discourse)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (expletive/metrical particle)

• बाण-बाहु-सहस्रम्: Bāṇa’s thousand arms
• बाण-बाहु-सहस्रम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाण + बाहु + सहस्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: बाणस्य बाहूनां सहस्रम् (a thousand arms of Bāṇa)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• च्छिन्नम्: cut off
• च्छिन्नम्: Karma (Predicate of object)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √छिद् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त (past passive participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘cut off’ (agreeing with बाहुद्वयम्/सहस्रम् by context)

• बाहुद्वयम्: a pair of arms (two arms)
• बाहुद्वयम्: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाहु + द्वय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा/द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्विगु-समासः: द्वौ बाहू (two arms)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• अभूत्: was
• अभूत्: Kriya (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √भू (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतनभूत/Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपदम्; ‘was/became’

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narration to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Apparent conflict between deities functions within līlā; divine powers are coordinated in cosmic governance, with restraint tempering wrath.

Vedantic Theme: Non-dual harmony behind plural divine forms (sāmānādhikaraṇya of īśvara-śaktis); līlā and dharma as regulators of power.

Application: Recognize that intense conflicts can still serve higher order; practice restraint after victory; avoid absolutism in sectarian rivalry.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: raudra

Secondary Rasa: adbhuta

Geographic Context

Type: fortified city and battlefield

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.144 (Bāṇa episode; Hari-Śaṅkara battle)

Characters & Entities

• Hari (Vishnu)
• Shankara (Shiva)
• Bana (Banasura)

FAQs

What is the importance of the Hari–Śaṅkara battle episode in the Garuda Purana?

This verse highlights a Purāṇic episode where divine powers confront each other within cosmic order, underscoring the supremacy of dharma and the ultimate resolution of conflict through divine will.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

This specific verse is not about the soul’s post-death journey; it belongs to a narrative section describing divine conflict and the humbling of Bāṇa, rather than preta/afterlife doctrine.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

It serves as a reminder that excessive pride in power is curtailed by dharma; cultivate humility, self-restraint, and reverence for the divine order.