Shloka 29

Kālayavana’s Rise, Dvārakā’s Founding, and Muchukunda’s Awakening (Śaraṇāgati & Brahman-Stuti)

Devanagari script

देवासुरमहायुद्धे दैत्यसैन्यमहाभटाः न सेहुर् मम तेजस् ते त्वत्तेजो न सहाम्य् अहम्

Transliteration

devāsuramahāyuddhe daityasainyamahābhaṭāḥ na sehur mama tejas te tvattejo na sahāmy aham

Translation

In the mighty war between Devas and Asuras, the great champions of the Daitya host could not endure my splendor. Yet I too cannot bear the radiance that is yours; your power surpasses mine.

Word by Word

• देवासुरमहायुद्धे: in the great war of gods and demons
• देवासुरमहायुद्धे: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव + असुर + महा + युद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समास (‘देव-असुरयोः महायुद्धम्’), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन

• दैत्यसैन्यमहाभटाः: the great warriors of the demon army
• दैत्यसैन्यमहाभटाः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य + सैन्य + महा + भट (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘दैत्यसैन्यस्य महाभटाः’), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• सेहुः: endured/bore
• सेहुः: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √सह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• मम: my
• मम: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• तेजः: splendor; energy
• तेजः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• ते: your
• ते: Sambandha (Genitive/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी/चतुर्थी-विभक्ति रूप; अत्र षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन

• त्वत्तेजः: your splendor
• त्वत्तेजः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: त्वत् (युष्मद्-प्रातिपदिक) + तेजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘त्वत्तेजः’ = तव तेजः), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• न: not
• न: Sambandha (Negation/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेध-अव्यय

• सहामि: I endure/bear
• सहामि: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √सह् (धातु)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• अहम्: I
• अहम्: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

Speaker

Uncertain from single-verse excerpt (likely a deity addressing a superior divine presence; overall narration traditionally by Sage Parāśara to Maitreya)

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: He reveals a radiance surpassing even the might displayed in deva–asura wars, humbling powerful beings and protecting dharma.

Leela: Yuddha

Dharma Restored: Maintenance of deva-supported cosmic order against asuric domination.

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: All created powers—even those that overwhelm asuras—are eclipsed by the Lord’s unsurpassed tejas.

Vedantic Theme: Brahman

Application: Measure one’s fears and prides against the divine; take refuge rather than relying solely on limited power.

Vishishtadvaita: The hierarchy of powers culminates in the supreme Person; finite glories participate in, but do not equal, the Lord’s infinite auspicious attributes.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Narayana

Bhakti Type: Dasya

Characters & Entities

• Devas
• Asuras
• Daityas

FAQs

What is the significance of tejas (divine radiance) in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse uses tejas as a measure of true supremacy: even mighty warriors may be overwhelmed by spiritual potency, and higher divinity is recognized by an incomparable radiance.

How does Sage Parāśara explain hierarchy among divine beings in such episodes?

In Purana-style narration, power is shown as graded—lesser beings acknowledge a superior presence—supporting the theme that cosmic order is upheld by an ultimate, unsurpassed source of might.

What is the theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Even when Vishnu is not named in a single excerpt, the narrative logic aligns with Vaishnava doctrine: the highest tejas ultimately belongs to the Supreme Lord, before whom all other powers are secondary.