Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 26

Dhruva’s War with the Yakṣas and the Protection of the Holy Name

Devanagari script

अहयोऽशनिनि:श्वासा वमन्तोऽग्निं रुषाक्षिभि: । अभ्यधावन् गजा मत्ता: सिंहव्याघ्राश्च यूथश: ॥ २६ ॥

Transliteration

ahayo ’śani-niḥśvāsā vamanto ’gniṁ ruṣākṣibhiḥ abhyadhāvan gajā mattāḥ siṁha-vyāghrāś ca yūthaśaḥ

Translation

Dhruva Mahārāja vit aussi de grands serpents aux yeux courroucés, soufflant comme la foudre et vomissant du feu, accourant pour le dévorer; et il y avait encore des troupeaux d’éléphants furieux, ainsi que des groupes de lions et de tigres.

Synonyms

• ahayaḥ: serpents
• ahayaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ahi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• aśani-niḥśvāsāḥ: with thunderbolt-like breaths
• aśani-niḥśvāsāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aśani (प्रातिपदिक) + niḥśvāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारयार्थ: ‘अशनिसदृश-निःश्वासाः’ (having thunderbolt-like breaths)

• vamantaḥ: vomiting; spewing
• vamantaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vam (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present active participle), परस्मैपदी; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• agnim: fire
• agnim: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: agni (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• ruṣā-akṣibhiḥ: with furious eyes
• ruṣā-akṣibhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ruṣā (प्रातिपदिक) + akṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग ‘अक्षि’ (eye) तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), बहुवचन; ‘रुषाक्षि’ = रुषा (क्रोधेन) युक्तानि अक्षीणि (with angry eyes)

• abhyadhāvan: ran towards; charged
• abhyadhāvan: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-dhāv (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन

• gajāḥ: elephants
• gajāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• mattāḥ: intoxicated; maddened
• mattāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: matta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• siṁha-vyāghrāḥ: lions and tigers
• siṁha-vyāghrāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: siṁha (प्रातिपदिक) + vyāghra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (lions and tigers)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (conjunction)

• yūthaśaḥ: in herds; in groups
• yūthaśaḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yūthaśas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकार/विभागार्थे (distributive adverb): ‘in herds, in groups’

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam describe about Dhruva Maharaja’s battle in Canto 4 Chapter 10?

It portrays terrifying, forceful assaults—serpents, maddened elephants, and packs of lions and tigers charging together—highlighting the intensity of the conflict around Dhruva’s campaign against the Yakshas.

Who is speaking this verse in Srimad Bhagavatam 4.10.26?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī narrates these events to Mahārāja Parīkṣit.

What practical lesson can a devotee take from this shloka today?

Even when circumstances appear overwhelming and frightening, a devotee learns steadiness and courage by remembering the Lord and staying aligned with dharma rather than being driven by panic.