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Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 12

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

प्राहरत् कुलिशं तस्मा अमोघं परमर्दन: । सयानो न्यपतद् भूमौ छिन्नपक्ष इवाचल: ॥ १२ ॥

prāharat kuliśaṁ tasmā amoghaṁ para-mardanaḥ sayāno nyapatad bhūmau chinna-pakṣa ivācalaḥ

Ketika itu Indra, penewas musuh, melepaskan vajra yang tidak pernah tersasar untuk membunuh Bali Mahārāja. Bali pun jatuh ke bumi bersama wahananya, bagaikan gunung yang sayapnya terpotong.

प्राहरत्struck/attacked
प्राहरत्:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootप्र-आ-हृ (धातु)
Formलङ् (Imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)
कुलिशम्thunderbolt (vajra)
कुलिशम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootकुलिश (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (accusative), एकवचन (singular)
तस्मैto him
तस्मै:
Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
TypeNoun
Rootतद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग (masculine), चतुर्थी विभक्ति (dative), एकवचन (singular)
अमोघम्unfailing
अमोघम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootअमोघ (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग (neuter), द्वितीया विभक्ति (accusative), एकवचन (singular); विशेषणम् (qualifier) of कुलिशम्
परमर्दनःthe great crusher/destroyer
परमर्दनः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootपर-मर्दन (प्रातिपदिक)
Formतत्पुरुषसमास (determinative): परम् + मर्दन; पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (nominative), एकवचन (singular)
शयानःlying (down)
शयानः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootशी (धातु) + शानच् (कृदन्त-प्रत्यय)
Formवर्तमानकृदन्त (present participle), पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (nominative), एकवचन (singular); कर्तरि प्रयोग (active sense)
न्यपतत्fell down
न्यपतत्:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootनि-√पत् (धातु)
Formलङ् (Imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (singular)
भूमौon the ground
भूमौ:
Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootभूमि (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग (feminine), सप्तमी विभक्ति (locative), एकवचन (singular)
छिन्नपक्षःwith wings cut off
छिन्नपक्षः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootछिन्न-पक्ष (प्रातिपदिक)
Formकर्मधारयसमास (descriptive): छिन्नः + पक्षः; पुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (nominative), एकवचन (singular)
इवlike/as if
इव:
Sambandha/Upamā (उपमा-सूचक)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootइव (अव्यय)
Formउपमा-अव्यय (particle of comparison)
अचलःa mountain
अचलः:
Upamāna (उपमान)
TypeNoun
Rootअचल (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग (masculine), प्रथमा विभक्ति (nominative), एकवचन (singular)

In many descriptions in Vedic literature it is found that mountains also fly in the sky with wings. When such mountains are dead, they fall to the ground, where they stay as very large dead bodies.

I
Indra (Paramardana)

FAQs

This verse describes Indra (Paramardana) striking an opponent with an “amogha” (infallible) vajra, emphasizing the irresistible potency of a divinely empowered weapon in the Deva–Asura battle.

Śukadeva Gosvāmī speaks this verse while narrating the events of the Devas and Asuras fighting in Canto 8, Chapter 11.

It highlights how even great power can be brought down instantly when higher divine order prevails—encouraging humility and reliance on dharma and devotion rather than pride in strength.