Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 33
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
Wahai Mahārāja Parīkṣit, penakluk musuh! Vṛṣākapi (Śiva) bertempur melawan Jambha, dan Vibhāvasu (Agni) melawan Mahiṣāsura. Ilvala bersama saudaranya Vātāpi bertempur melawan putra-putra Brahmā. Durmarṣa bertempur melawan Kāmadeva; raksasa Utkala melawan para Mātṛkā; Bṛhaspati melawan Uśanas (Śukrācārya); dan Śanaiścara (Saturnus) melawan Narakāsura. Para Marut melawan Nivātakavaca; para Vasu melawan para Kālakeya; para Viśvedeva melawan para Pauloma; dan para Rudra melawan para Krodhavaśa yang dikuasai amarah.
FAQs
The verse lists matchups: Vṛṣākapi fought Jambha, Vibhāvasu fought Mahiṣa, and Ilvala with Vātāpi fought the sons of Brahmā.
He is mapping the battlefield for Parīkṣit—showing how the cosmic conflict unfolds through specific pairings of devas and asuras.
They remind a seeker that life involves struggle between dharma and adharma, and one should consciously side with dharma through discipline, prayer, and devotion.