Srimad Bhagavatam — Saptama Skandha, Shloka 18

Hiraṇyakaśipu’s Wrath, the Assault on Vedic Culture, and the Boy-Yamarāja’s Teaching on the Soul

Devanagari script

शकुनिं शम्बरं धृष्टिं भूतसन्तापनं वृकम् । कालनाभं महानाभं हरिश्मश्रुमथोत्कचम् ॥ १८ ॥ तन्मातरं रुषाभानुं दितिं च जननीं गिरा । श्लक्ष्णया देशकालज्ञ इदमाह जनेश्वर ॥ १९ ॥

Transliteration

śakuniṁ śambaraṁ dhṛṣṭiṁ bhūtasantāpanaṁ vṛkam kālanābhaṁ mahānābhaṁ hariśmaśrum athotkacam

Translation

Wahai Raja, Hiraṇyakaśipu sangat murka, namun sebagai ahli siasah dia tahu bertindak menurut waktu dan keadaan. Dengan kata-kata manis dia menenangkan anak-anak saudaranya—Śakuni, Śambara, Dhṛṣṭi, Bhūtasantāpana, Vṛka, Kālanābha, Mahānābha, Hariśmaśru dan Utkaca—serta menghibur ibu mereka, Ruṣābhānu, dan ibunya sendiri, Diti; lalu dia berkata demikian.

Synonyms

• शकुनिम्: Śakuni (name)
• शकुनिम्: कर्म (karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शकुनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• शम्बरम्: Śambara (name)
• शम्बरम्: कर्म (karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शम्बर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• धृष्टिम्: Dhṛṣṭi (name)
• धृष्टिम्: कर्म (karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धृष्टि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• भूत-सन्तापनम्: Bhūtasantāpana (name)
• भूत-सन्तापनम्: कर्म (karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत + सन्तापन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: भूतानां सन्तापनः (tormentor of beings)

• वृकम्: Vṛka (name)
• वृकम्: कर्म (karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वृक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• कालनाभम्: Kālanābha (name)
• कालनाभम्: कर्म (karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: काल + नाभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः (name): 'time-like navel'

• महानाभम्: Mahānābha (name)
• महानाभम्: कर्म (karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा + नाभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः: महान् नाभः यस्य (having a great navel; as name)

• हरि-श्मश्रुम्: Hariśmaśru (name)
• हरि-श्मश्रुम्: कर्म (karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि + श्मश्रु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः: हरि-श्मश्रु (tawny/yellow moustache; as name)

• अथ: and then
• अथ: सम्बन्धसूचक (discourse connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; समुच्चय/अनन्तर (conjunctive/then)

• उत्कचम्: Utkaca (name)
• उत्कचम्: कर्म (karma)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उत्कच (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Hiraṇyakaśipu
• Śakuni
• Śambara
• Dhṛṣṭi
• Bhūta-santāpana
• Vṛka
• Kālanābha
• Mahānābha
• Hariśmaśru
• Utkaca

FAQs

Who are Śambara and the other names mentioned in Srimad Bhagavatam 7.2.18?

They are prominent asuras (demonic leaders/associates) whom Hiraṇyakaśipu called together as he consolidated power.

Why does Hiraṇyakaśipu summon these asuras in Canto 7 Chapter 2?

He is organizing his demonic allies and commanders to strengthen his rule and pursue his anti-Viṣṇu agenda described in this chapter’s narrative.

Practical application: what does Bhagavatam 7.2.18 teach about association?

It highlights how leaders shape outcomes through the company they keep—wise seekers choose sādhus and devotional association rather than alliances based on ego and domination.