Shloka 56
The Tārakāmaya War: Divine Mustering, Māyā Countermeasures, Aurva Fire, and Viṣṇu’s Slaying of Kālanemi
ते वध्यमाना बलिभिर्दानवैर्जितकाशिभिः । विषण्णवदना देवा जग्मुरार्तिं परां मृधे
te vadhyamānā balibhirdānavairjitakāśibhiḥ | viṣaṇṇavadanā devā jagmurārtiṃ parāṃ mṛdhe
ਕਾਸ਼ੀ ਨੂੰ ਜਿੱਤ ਚੁੱਕੇ ਬਲਵਾਨ ਦਾਨਵਾਂ ਦੇ ਪ੍ਰਹਾਰਾਂ ਨਾਲ ਪੀੜਤ ਹੋ ਕੇ, ਨਿਰਾਸ਼ ਮੁਖ ਵਾਲੇ ਦੇਵਤਾ ਯੁੱਧ ਵਿਚ ਪਰਮ ਆਰਤੀ ਨੂੰ ਪਹੁੰਚ ਗਏ।
Narrator (Purāṇic narrator; specific dialogue-speaker not indicated in this single verse)
Primary Rasa: karuna
Secondary Rasa: bhayanaka
Type: city
Sandhi Resolution Notes: बलिभिर्दानवैर्जितकाशिभिः → बलिभिः दानवैः जित-काशिभिः; जग्मुरार्तिं → जग्मुः आर्तिम्
FAQs
It references Kāśī (Varanasi), presenting it as a major sacred locus whose conquest becomes a cosmic event, showing how Purāṇic narratives tie political-military outcomes to revered tirtha-geography.
Indirectly: the gods’ helplessness and despair in battle sets up a common Purāṇic motif where refuge in the supreme divine becomes necessary—often prompting surrender (śaraṇāgati) and devotional recourse.
Power and victory are unstable in worldly conflict; even divine beings can face defeat, encouraging humility and the search for higher protection rather than pride in strength alone.