Shloka 32

Yoga-māyā Appears as Durgā; Kaṁsa’s Repentance and the Demonic Policy of Persecuting Vaiṣṇavas

Devanagari script

किमुद्यमै: करिष्यन्ति देवा: समरभीरव: । नित्यमुद्विग्नमनसो ज्याघोषैर्धनुषस्तव ॥ ३२ ॥

Transliteration

kim udyamaiḥ kariṣyanti devāḥ samara-bhīravaḥ nityam udvigna-manaso jyā-ghoṣair dhanuṣas tava

Translation

Los semidioses siempre temen el sonido de la cuerda de tu arco. Viven en constante ansiedad, temerosos de luchar. Por lo tanto, ¿qué daño pueden hacerte con sus esfuerzos?

Synonyms

• किम्: what (use)
• किम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: किम् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रश्न-निपातवत् अव्यय-प्रयोगः (interrogative particle usage)

• उद्यमैः: by efforts
• उद्यमैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उद्यम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः (Instrumental), बहुवचनम्

• करिष्यन्ति: will do
• करिष्यन्ति: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), प्रथम-पुरुषः, बहुवचनम्, परस्मैपदम्

• देवाः: the gods
• देवाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्

• समरभीरवः: cowardly in battle
• समरभीरवः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समर-भीरु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; समासः: समरे भीरवः/भीरवः (सप्तमी-तत्पुरुष; ‘fearful in battle’); देवाः इति विशेषणम्

• नित्यम्: always
• नित्यम्: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: नित्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय-प्रयोगः (adverbial accusative)

• उद्विग्नमनसः: whose minds are anxious
• उद्विग्नमनसः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: उद्विग्न-मनस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, प्रथमा-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; समासः: उद्विग्नं मनः येषाम् (कर्मधारय/बहुव्रीहि-भावः; here as adjective of देवाः)

• ज्याघोषैः: by the twang of the bowstring
• ज्याघोषैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्या-घोष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गे, तृतीया-विभक्तिः, बहुवचनम्; समासः: ज्यायाः घोषः (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष)

• धनुषः: of the bow
• धनुषः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्गे, षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (Genitive), एकवचनम्

• तव: your
• तव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युष्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-विभक्तिः (Genitive), एकवचनम्; मध्यम-पुरुष-सर्वनाम

Characters & Entities

• Kaṁsa
• Devas (demigods)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the demigods being afraid in battle?

This verse depicts Kaṁsa’s contemptuous view that the devas are anxious and timid, implying that worldly power and high position do not guarantee fearlessness without divine shelter.

Why did Kaṁsa say this about the demigods?

In the narrative of Canto 10, Chapter 4, Kaṁsa is emboldened in his tyranny and belittles the devas, assuming their efforts cannot stop him as he intensifies his persecutions.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

External status can’t remove inner anxiety; steadiness comes from taking shelter of dharma and devotion rather than relying only on power, position, or intimidation.