Shloka 11

भद्रवटगमनम् — स्कन्देन महिषदानवनिग्रहः

Bhadravaṭa Procession and Skanda’s Neutralization of Mahiṣa

Devanagari script

सुभीममतिभीम॑ं च भीम॑ भीमबलाबलम्‌ | एतान्‌ यज्ञमुष: पज्च देवानां हासृजत्‌ तप:

Transliteration

subhīmam atibhīmaṃ ca bhīmaṃ bhīmabalābalam | etān yajñamuṣaḥ pañca devānāṃ hāsṛjat tapaḥ ||

Translation

Mārkaṇḍeya said: “Tapaḥ—ascetic power personified—brought forth these five ‘yajña-stealers’: Subhīma, Atibhīma, Bhīma, Bhīmabala, and Abala, beings who disrupt and ruin the sacrificial rites of the gods.” Thus the tale declares that even yajña, a pillar of cosmic and social dharma, may be assailed by obstructing forces, and must be guarded by vigilance and right ritual discipline.

Word by Word

• सुभीमम्: Su-bhīma (very/auspiciously terrible one; a name)
• सुभीमम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुभीम
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• अतिभीमम्: Ati-bhīma (exceedingly terrible one; a name)
• अतिभीमम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: अतिभीम
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• भीमम्: Bhīma (terrible one; a name)
• भीमम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीम
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• भीम: O Bhīma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीम
• Form: Masculine, Vocative, Singular

• भीमबलाबलम्: Bhīmabala and Abala (as a pair/name; lit. 'terrible-strength and weakness')
• भीमबलाबलम्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: भीम-बल-अबल
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• एतान्: these (ones)
• एतान्: Karma
• Type: Pronoun
• Root: एतद्
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• यज्ञमुषः: Yajñamuṣ (the 'sacrificestealer'; a name/epithet)
• यज्ञमुषः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: यज्ञमुष्
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• पञ्च: five
• Type: Numeral
• Root: पञ्च

• देवानाम्: of the gods
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव
• Form: Masculine, Genitive, Plural

• हा: alas!/indeed (exclamation/particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हा

• असृजत्: created, produced
• Type: Verb
• Root: सृज्
• Form: Imperfect, 3, Singular, Parasmaipada

• तपः: Tapas (a being named 'Tapas' / austerity personified)
• तपः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: तपस्
• Form: Neuter, Nominative, Singular

Speaker

मार्कण्डेय उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Mārkaṇḍeya
• Tapaḥ (personified ascetic power)
• Subhīma
• Atibhīma
• Bhīma
• Bhīmabala
• Abala
• Devas (gods)
• Yajña (sacrifice)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights that yajña (sacred, dharma-sustaining action) can be undermined by disruptive forces; therefore, maintaining ritual integrity, discipline, and protective measures is essential to preserve cosmic and social order.

What is happening in the narrative?

Mārkaṇḍeya narrates a creation episode: Tapaḥ generates five beings described as ‘yajñamuṣaḥ’—spoilers of the gods’ sacrifices—named Subhīma, Atibhīma, Bhīma, Bhīmabala, and Abala.