Dadhīci’s Supreme Charity and the Opening of Indra’s War with Vṛtrāsura
नमुचि: शम्बरोऽनर्वा द्विमूर्धा ऋषभोऽसुर: । हयग्रीव: शङ्कुशिरा विप्रचित्तिरयोमुख: ॥ १९ ॥ पुलोमा वृषपर्वा च प्रहेतिर्हेतिरुत्कल: । दैतेया दानवा यक्षा रक्षांसि च सहस्रश: ॥ २० ॥ सुमालिमालिप्रमुखा: कार्तस्वरपरिच्छदा: । प्रतिषिध्येन्द्रसेनाग्रं मृत्योरपि दुरासदम् ॥ २१ ॥ अभ्यर्दयन्नसम्भ्रान्ता: सिंहनादेन दुर्मदा: । गदाभि: परिघैर्बाणै: प्रासमुद्गरतोमरै: ॥ २२ ॥
namuciḥ śambaro ’narvā dvimūrdhā ṛṣabho ’suraḥ hayagrīvaḥ śaṅkuśirā vipracittir ayomukhaḥ
Centenas e milhares de daityas e dānavas, yakṣas e rākṣasas—liderados por Sumālī e Mālī—adornados com ouro, resistiram à vanguarda do exército de Indra, que nem a Morte personificada consegue vencer facilmente. Entre eles estavam Namuci, Śambara, Anarvā, Dvimūrdhā, Ṛṣabha, Hayagrīva, Śaṅkuśirā, Vipracitti, Ayomukha, Pulomā, Vṛṣaparvā, Praheti, Heti e Utkala. Rugindo como leões, destemidos e arrogantes, afligiram os devas com maças, clavas, flechas, lanças, malhos e dardos.
They are prominent asura leaders listed by Śukadeva Gosvāmī as advancing to fight the demigods in Canto 6, Chapter 10.
The text emphasizes the scale and intensity of the battle by naming key demoniac commanders who opposed Indra’s army.
It reminds a seeker to recognize opposing tendencies within oneself—ego and violence versus dharma—and to choose discipline and devotion.