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Shloka 16

The Slaying of Narakāsura (Bhaumāsura), Rescue of the Princesses, and the Pārijāta Episode Begins

तद् भौमसैन्यं भगवान् गदाग्रजो विचित्रवाजैर्निशितै: शिलीमुखै: । निकृत्तबाहूरुशिरोध्रविग्रहं चकार तर्ह्येव हताश्वकुञ्जरम् ॥ १६ ॥

tad bhauma-sainyaṁ bhagavān gadāgrajo vicitra-vājair niśitaiḥ śilīmukhaiḥ nikṛtta-bāhūru-śirodhra-vigrahaṁ cakāra tarhy eva hatāśva-kuñjaram

Pada ketika itu, Dewa Gadagraja melepaskan panah tajam-Nya ke arah tentera Bhaumasura. Panah-panah ini, yang mempunyai bulu beraneka warna, segera menjadikan tentera itu sebagai timbunan mayat dengan lengan, paha, dan leher yang terputus. Tuhan juga membunuh kuda dan gajah pihak lawan.

tatthat
tat:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); विशेषण of sainyam
bhauma-sainyamBhauma’s army
bhauma-sainyam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootbhauma-sainya (प्रातिपदिक: bhauma + sainya)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (Bhauma’s army)
bhagavānthe Lord
bhagavān:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootbhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular)
gadāgrajaḥthe elder brother of Gadā (Kṛṣṇa)
gadāgrajaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootgadā-agraja (प्रातिपदिक: gadā + agraja)
Formपुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative/1st), एकवचन (Singular); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (elder brother of Gadā)
vicitra-vājaiḥwith variegated/strangely-feathered
vicitra-vājaiḥ:
Karaṇa (करण)
TypeAdjective
Rootvicitra-vāja (प्रातिपदिक: vicitra + vāja)
Formपुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural); विशेषण of śilīmukhaiḥ
niśitaiḥsharp
niśitaiḥ:
Karaṇa (करण)
TypeAdjective
Rootniśita (प्रातिपदिक; PPP of ni-śā)
Formपुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP) = sharpened
śilīmukhaiḥarrows
śilīmukhaiḥ:
Karaṇa (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootśilīmukha (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग (Masculine), तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental/3rd), बहुवचन (Plural)
nikṛtta-bāhu-ūru-śirodhra-vigraham(army) whose arms, thighs, heads, and bodies were cut down
nikṛtta-bāhu-ūru-śirodhra-vigraham:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootnikṛtta + bāhu + ūru + śiras + dhra + vigraha (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); बहुव्रीहि—‘यस्य ...’ (whose arms, thighs, heads, and bodies were cut down); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त ‘नि + कृद्/कृत्’
cakārahe made/rendered
cakāra:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootkṛ (धातु)
Formलिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमा-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन (Singular), परस्मैपद
tarhithen
tarhi:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottarhi (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय (temporal adverb)
evaindeed/just
eva:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Rooteva (अव्यय)
Formनिपात (emphatic particle)
hata-aśva-kuñjaram(army) with horses and elephants slain
hata-aśva-kuñjaram:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Roothata + aśva + kuñjara (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग (Neuter), द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन (Singular); क्त-प्रत्ययान्त ‘हन्’ (slain) + द्वन्द्व-समाहारार्थ तत्पुरुष (horses and elephants slain)
Ś
Śrī Kṛṣṇa
B
Bhauma (Narakāsura)
B
Balarāma

FAQs

This verse describes how Śrī Kṛṣṇa swiftly destroyed Bhauma (Narakāsura)’s forces with sharp arrows, cutting down their bodies and killing their horses and elephants—showing the Lord’s effortless victory over adharma.

“Gadāgraja” means “the elder brother of Gadā,” a poetic way to identify Kṛṣṇa through His relationship with Balarāma (Gadā’s elder brother), commonly used in epic-Purāṇic Sanskrit style.

The verse reminds a devotee that when one takes shelter of Bhagavān, destructive forces of adharma are ultimately overcome; it inspires courage, faith, and steadiness in righteous action.