Shloka 29

Adhyaya 6 — Balarama’s Dilemma, Drunken Wanderings in Revata’s Grove, and the Slaying of the Suta

Sanskrit

ततः क्रोधसमाविष्टो हली सूतं महाबलः ।

निजघान विवृत्ताक्षः क्षोभिताशेषदानवः ॥

Transliteration

tataḥ krodhasamāviṣṭo halī sūtaṃ mahābalaḥ |

nijaghāna vivṛttākṣaḥ kṣobhitāśeṣadānavaḥ ||

Translation

तेव्हा क्रोधाने आविष्ट झालेल्या महाबली हलीने (बलरामाने) सूत सारथ्याला घाव घालून पाडले; क्रोधाने फिरणाऱ्या नेत्रांनी त्याने सर्व दानवांना क्षोभित केले।

Word by Word

• tataḥ: then, thereafter
• tataḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (Avyaya), अव्यय-प्रकारः: क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of sequence)

• krodha-samāviṣṭaḥ: possessed/overcome by anger
• krodha-samāviṣṭaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: krodha (प्रातिपदिक) + sam-ā-viś (धातु) → samāviṣṭa (कृदन्त, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; कृदन्तः: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past passive participle) ‘समाविष्ट’

• halī: the plough-bearer (Balarāma)
• halī: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: halin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• sūtam: the charioteer
• sūtam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: sūta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• mahā-balaḥ: very strong, mighty
• mahā-balaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; विशेषण (adjective)

• nijaghāna: struck down, slew
• nijaghāna: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni-√han (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्षभूत), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपदम्

• vivṛtta-akṣaḥ: with rolling/turned eyes
• vivṛtta-akṣaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vi-√vṛt (धातु) → vivṛtta (कृदन्त, क्त) + akṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः ‘यस्य अक्षे विवृत्ते’

• kṣobhita-aśeṣa-dānavaḥ: who agitated all the demons
• kṣobhita-aśeṣa-dānavaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √kṣubh (धातु) → kṣobhita (कृदन्त, क्त) + aśeṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + dānava (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः ‘येन अशेषाः दानवाः क्षोभिताः’

Speakers

• Narrative voice (Purāṇic narrator); not within the Devi Mahatmyam frame

Verse Rasa

{ "primaryRasa": "raudra", "secondaryRasa": "vira", "rasaIntensity": 0, "emotionalArcPosition": "", "moodDescriptors": [] }

Primary Deities

• Balarāma (Hali)

Key Themes

• Wrath and its consequences
• Kṣatriya/heroic violence in epic-style narrative
• Asura conflict

FAQs

What is the philosophical or ethical takeaway?

The verse depicts the explosive power of krodha (anger): once it overtakes even a mighty hero, it rapidly escalates conflict and destabilizes the wider field (here, the entire Dānava host). The implied dharmic caution is that anger is a force that spreads beyond its initial target, producing broader disturbance.

How does this fit the Pancalakshana (5 characteristics)?

This is best classified under Vaṃśānucarita/Carita-style narration (accounts of deeds in lineages and heroic episodes), rather than Sarga/Pratisarga/Manvantara/Vaṃśa proper. It functions as event-narrative within the Purāṇic historical-legendary stream.

What is the esoteric significance?

Hali (the plough-bearer) symbolizes irresistible force that can both stabilize (tilling/order) and, when driven by rage, overturn order. The 'rolling eyes' motif marks tamasic-overdrive—consciousness eclipsed by passion—while 'agitating all Dānavas' indicates how inner turbulence externalizes into collective upheaval.