Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 15

Indra Slays Namuci—The Limits of Power and the Triumph of Divine Strategy

Devanagari script

गदाप्रहारव्यथितो भृशं विह्वलितो गज: । जानुभ्यां धरणीं स्पृष्ट्वा कश्मलं परमं ययौ ॥ १५ ॥

Transliteration

gadā-prahāra-vyathito bhṛśaṁ vihvalito gajaḥ jānubhyāṁ dharaṇīṁ spṛṣṭvā kaśmalaṁ paramaṁ yayau

Translation

Frappé par la massue de Jambhāsura, l’éléphant d’Indra fut cruellement meurtri et tout égaré. Posant les genoux à terre, il tomba dans une profonde syncope.

Synonyms

• गदाप्रहारव्यथितः: pained by the blow of the mace
• गदाप्रहारव्यथितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: गदा-प्रहार-व्यथित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुषसमास: गदायाḥ प्रहारः (instrumental sense) + तेन व्यथितः; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् of गजः

• भृशम्: exceedingly
• भृशम्: Viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भृशम् (अव्यय)
• Form: क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय (adverb)

• विह्वलितः: bewildered/overwhelmed
• विह्वलितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वि-ह्वल् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषणम् of गजः

• गजः: the elephant
• गजः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• जानुभ्याम्: with (his) two knees
• जानुभ्याम्: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जानु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया विभक्ति (instrumental), द्विवचन (dual)

• धरणीम्: the earth/ground
• धरणीम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धरणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• स्पृष्ट्वा: having touched
• स्पृष्ट्वा: Pūrvakāla (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: स्पृश् (धातु) + त्वा (क्त्वा-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (gerund/absolutive)

• कश्मलम्: faintness/delusion
• कश्मलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कश्मल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• परमम्: extreme
• परमम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषणम् of कश्मलम्

• ययौ: went/entered into
• ययौ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: या (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Gaja (the elephant)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the intensity of suffering in battle?

This verse depicts how a single mace-blow can leave even a powerful elephant stunned and collapsing, showing the severe, destabilizing nature of worldly conflict and pain.

Who is speaking in Srimad Bhagavatam 8.11.15 and what is the context?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī narrates the fierce Deva–Asura battle; here he describes the elephant’s condition after being struck by a mace during the combat.

Practical application: what can a devotee learn from this verse about facing sudden setbacks?

Material strength can fail abruptly; a devotee cultivates inner steadiness and remembrance of the Lord so that distress does not lead to helpless bewilderment.