Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 34
Deva–Asura Battle after the Nectar; Bali’s Illusions and Hari’s Intervention
वृषाकपिस्तु जम्भेन महिषेण विभावसु: । इल्वल: सह वातापिर्ब्रह्मपुत्रैररिन्दम ॥ ३२ ॥ कामदेवेन दुर्मर्ष उत्कलो मातृभि: सह । बृहस्पतिश्चोशनसा नरकेण शनैश्चर: ॥ ३३ ॥ मरुतो निवातकवचै: कालेयैर्वसवोऽमरा: । विश्वेदेवास्तु पौलोमै रुद्रा: क्रोधवशै: सह ॥ ३४ ॥
vṛṣākapis tu jambhena mahiṣeṇa vibhāvasuḥ ilvalaḥ saha vātāpir brahma-putrair arindama
Ô Mahārāja Parīkṣit, dompteur d'ennemis, le Seigneur Śiva combattit Jambha, et Vibhāvasu combattit Mahiṣāsura. Ilvala, avec son frère Vātāpi, combattit les fils du Seigneur Brahmā. Durmarṣa combattit Cupidon, le démon Utkala les demi-déesses Mātṛkā, Bṛhaspati combattit Śukrācārya, et Śanaiścara combattit Narakāsura. Les Maruts combattirent les Nivātakavaca, les Vasus les démons Kālakeya, les demi-dieux Viśvedeva les démons Pauloma, et les Rudras combattirent les démons Krodhavaśa.
FAQs
They are a powerful class of demons; here the verse states that the Maruts directly engaged them in battle during the Deva–Asura war.
He is describing the organized battlefield—various divine hosts (Maruts, Vasus, Viśvedevas, Rudras) each confronting specific demonic clans, showing the scale and structure of the conflict.
Dharma is protected through disciplined effort and cooperation—one can apply this by facing challenges systematically, with the right allies, and with a clear sense of duty.