Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 21

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

Devanagari script

हरीन्दशशतान्याजौ हर्यश्वस्य बल: शरै: । तावद्भ‍िरर्दयामास युगपल्ल‍घुहस्तवान् ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

harīn daśa-śatāny ājau haryaśvasya balaḥ śaraiḥ tāvadbhir ardayām āsa yugapal laghu-hastavān

Translation

戦場で手際の速い阿修羅バラは、インドラの千頭の馬を同数の矢で同時に射抜き、ことごとく苦しめた。

Synonyms

• हरीन्: horses
• हरीन्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन

• दशशतानि: ten hundreds (a thousand)
• दशशतानि: विशेषण (Quantifying adjective)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दश + शत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्विगु-समास (numerical compound: 'ten hundreds' = one thousand); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; हरीन्-विशेषण (quantifier)

• आजौ: in battle
• आजौ: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अज (प्रातिपदिक: अज m. 'battle, contest')
• Form: सप्तमी, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• हर्यश्वस्य: of Haryaśva
• हर्यश्वस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हर्यश्व (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी, एकवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• बलः: Bala
• बलः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• शरैः: with arrows
• शरैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया, बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग

• तावद्भिः: with that many
• तावद्भिः: विशेषण (Adjectival to instrument)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तावत् (सर्वनाम/परिमाण-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया, बहुवचन, पुंलिङ्ग; शरैः-विशेषण ('with so many')

• अर्दयाम्: torment/crush (did)
• अर्दयाम्: क्रिया (Part of periphrastic perfect)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अर्द् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect) periphrastic base (आम-प्रयोग); धातु-आम-रूप (verbal noun base) used with auxiliary; क्रियापद-भाग

• आस: did/was (aux.)
• आस: क्रिया (Auxiliary)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपदी; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; सहायक-क्रिया (auxiliary in periphrastic perfect)

• युगपत्: simultaneously
• युगपत्: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: युगपत् (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (adverb of time/manner: simultaneously)

• लघुहस्तवान्: having a swift hand
• लघुहस्तवान्: विशेषण (Adjectival to subject)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लघु + हस्तवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि (possessive: 'one whose hand is quick'); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बल-विशेषण

Characters & Entities

• Bala
• Haryaśva

FAQs

Who is Bala in Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 8 Chapter 11?

Bala is a powerful asura warrior described as the son of Haryaśva, fighting fiercely in the Devasura battle.

What does Srimad Bhagavatam 8.11.21 describe in the Devasura war?

It describes Bala’s extraordinary speed and skill, striking down hundreds of elephants with arrows as if attacking them all simultaneously.

What is a practical lesson from this verse for modern life?

It highlights how concentrated skill and speed can create overwhelming impact—encouraging disciplined practice, focus, and excellence, while remembering that true victory ultimately depends on divine will.