Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 41

Deva–Asura Battle after the Nectar; Bali’s Illusions and Hari’s Intervention

Devanagari script

बलिर्महेन्द्रं दशभिस्त्रिभिरैरावतं शरै: । चतुर्भिश्चतुरो वाहानेकेनारोहमार्च्छयत् ॥ ४१ ॥

Transliteration

balir mahendraṁ daśabhis tribhir airāvataṁ śaraiḥ caturbhiś caturo vāhān ekenāroham ārcchayat

Translation

Le Mahārāja Bali attaqua alors Indra avec dix flèches et Airāvata, l'éléphant porteur d'Indra, avec trois flèches. Avec quatre flèches, il attaqua les quatre cavaliers gardant les pattes d'Airāvata, et avec une flèche, il attaqua le conducteur de l'éléphant.

Synonyms

• बलिः: Bali
• बलिः: कर्ता (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बलि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन — Masculine, Nominative, Singular

• महेन्द्रम्: Mahendra (Indra)
• महेन्द्रम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महेन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (महान् इन्द्रः) — Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• दशभिः: with ten
• दशभिः: विशेषण (to शरैः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दशन् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (शरैः इति सह) तृतीया, बहुवचन — Instrumental, Plural (numeral)

• त्रिभिः: with three
• त्रिभिः: विशेषण (to शरैः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: त्रि (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (शरैः इति सह) तृतीया, बहुवचन — Instrumental, Plural (numeral)

• ऐरावतम्: Airāvata (Indra’s elephant)
• ऐरावतम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ऐरावत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन — Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• शरैः: with arrows
• शरैः: करण (Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन — Masculine, Instrumental, Plural

• चतुर्भिः: with four
• चतुर्भिः: विशेषण (to implied instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (वाहान् इति सह) तृतीया, बहुवचन — Instrumental, Plural (numeral)

• चतुरः: four
• चतुरः: विशेषण (to वाहान्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चतुर् (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), बहुवचन — Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• वाहान्: mounts/steeds (horses)
• वाहान्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वाह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), बहुवचन — Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• एकेन: with one
• एकेन: विशेषण (to implied शरेण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: एक (संख्या-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: (शरेण इति अध्याहृत) तृतीया, एकवचन — Instrumental, Singular (numeral)

• आरोहम्: the rider
• आरोहम्: कर्म (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: आरोह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन — Masculine, Accusative, Singular

• आर्च्छयत्: struck/attacked
• आर्च्छयत्: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√ऋच्छ् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतनभूत/Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद — Imperfect, 3rd person, Singular, Parasmaipada

Purport

The word vāhān refers to the soldiers on horseback who protected the legs of the carrier elephants. According to the system of military arrangement, the legs of the elephant bearing the commander were also protected.

Characters & Entities

• Bali
• Indra (Mahendra)
• Airāvata

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the battle between Bali and Indra?

This verse describes Bali’s prowess in the Deva–Asura battle: he directly wounds Indra, Indra’s elephant Airāvata, and even the accompanying carriers and rider with precise arrows.

Why is Bali attacking Indra in Canto 8 Chapter 10 of the Bhagavata Purana?

In this chapter’s narrative of the Deva–Asura war, Bali leads the Daityas in combat against the devas; the verse highlights a specific moment where Bali gains the upper hand over Indra and his entourage.

What practical lesson can be taken from this Bhagavatam verse about conflict?

Worldly power and victory can shift quickly; the Bhagavatam encourages seekers to look beyond mere strength and remember that lasting refuge is devotion and alignment with dharma, not battlefield advantage.