Shloka 22

Pradyumna’s Abduction, Mahā-māyā, and the Slaying of Śambara

Devanagari script

बाध्यमानोऽस्‍त्रवर्षेण रौक्‍मिणेयो महारथ: । सत्त्वात्मिकां महाविद्यां सर्वमायोपमर्दिनीम् ॥ २२ ॥

Transliteration

bādhyamāno ’stra-varṣeṇa raukmiṇeyo mahā-rathaḥ sattvātmikāṁ mahā-vidyāṁ sarva-māyopamardinīm

Translation

ആയുധവർഷത്താൽ പീഡിതനായ രുക്മിണീപുത്രൻ (പ്രദ്യുമ്നൻ), സകല മായകളെയും നശിപ്പിക്കുന്ന സാത്ത്വികമായ മഹാവിദ്യയെ പ്രയോഗിച്ചു.

Synonyms

• बाध्यमानः: being afflicted/pressed
• बाध्यमानः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: बाध् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि वर्तमानकृदन्त (शानच्/मान), प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग; Present passive participle, Nom. sg. m.

• अस्त्रवर्षेण: by the shower of weapons
• अस्त्रवर्षेण: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्त्र-वर्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Instrumental sg. n.; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (अस्त्राणां वर्षम्)

• रौक्मिणेयः: the son of Rukmiṇī (Pradyumna)
• रौक्मिणेयः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुक्मिणी-एय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nom. sg. m.; पितृ/मातृ-अपत्यार्थक (patronymic)

• महारथः: a great chariot-warrior
• महारथः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा-रथ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Nom. sg. m.; कर्मधारयः (महान् रथः/रथी)

• सत्त्वात्मिकाम्: of sattva-nature
• सत्त्वात्मिकाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सत्त्व-आत्मिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Acc. sg. f.; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (सत्त्वस्य आत्मा/स्वभावः यस्याः)

• महाविद्याम्: the great spell/knowledge
• महाविद्याम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा-विद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Acc. sg. f.; कर्मधारयः (महती विद्या)

• सर्वमायोपमर्दिनीम्: destroyer of all illusions
• सर्वमायोपमर्दिनीम्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सर्व-माया-उपमर्दिनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Acc. sg. f.; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (सर्वासां मायानाम् उपमर्दिनी)

Characters & Entities

• Raukmiṇeya (Pradyumna)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about overcoming māyā (illusion)?

This verse shows that divine, sattva-based spiritual power (mahā-vidyā) can subdue and destroy māyā, even amid intense conflict.

Why did Raukmiṇeya (Pradyumna) invoke mahā-vidyā during the battle?

Because he was being overwhelmed by a barrage of weapons, he employed a higher spiritual potency described as illusion-destroying to counter the attack.

Practical application of 'sarva-māyopamardinī' in modern life?

Cultivate sattva and God-centered knowledge—through devotion, purity, and steady spiritual practice—to cut through confusion and fear when life feels overwhelming.