Shloka 5

Ādi-parva Adhyāya 209: Śaraṇāgati of the Cursed Apsarases; Nārītīrtha-prasiddhi; Arjuna’s Vimocana

Devanagari script

तावन्तरिक्षमुत्प्लुत्य दैत्यौ कामगमावुभौ । देवानामेव भवनं जम्मतुर्युद्धदुर्मदौ,युद्धके लिये उन्मत्त रहनेवाले वे दोनों दैत्य इच्छानुसार सर्वत्र जानेकी शक्ति रखते थे; अत: आकाशमें उछलकर पहले देवताओंके ही घरोंपर जा चढ़े

Transliteration

tāv antarikṣam utplutya daityau kāmagamāv ubhau | devānām eva bhavanaṁ jagmatur yuddha-durmadau ||

Translation

Nārada said: Leaping up into the open sky, the two Dānavas—able to go wherever they wished—driven mad with the lust for battle, went first of all to the very abode of the gods. The verse underscores how unrestrained power, when joined to intoxication with violence, turns immediately toward violating sacred order and provoking conflict with the guardians of dharma.

Word by Word

तावत्so much, that much

अन्तरिक्षम्the sky, mid-air

उत्प्लुत्यhaving leapt up

दैत्यौthe two demons (Daityas)

कामगमौable to go at will

उभौboth

देवानाम्of the gods

एवindeed, just

भवनम्dwelling, abode, house

जग्मतुःthey went

युद्धदुर्मदौmad with the arrogance of battle

Speaker

नारद उवाच

Characters & Entities

Nārada

Daityas (two demons)

Devas (gods)

Abode of the gods (deva-bhavana)

Meter (Chandas)

Sandhi Notes

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

The verse highlights a moral pattern: extraordinary abilities (kāmagamatva) become destructive when governed by pride and battle-intoxication (yuddha-durmada). Such unbridled aggression naturally targets the very seat of dharma’s protectors (the devas), showing how adharma escalates by challenging sacred order.

What is happening in the narrative?

Two powerful Daityas, capable of moving anywhere at will, leap into the sky and head straight to the gods’ dwelling, propelled by war-frenzy and arrogance—initiating confrontation with the devas.