Shloka 81

Śiva-nāmānukīrtana-prastāvaḥ

Prologue to the praise of Śiva and the Upamanyu testimony

Devanagari script

अर्द्धमानाश्च विबुधा ग्रहेण सुबलीयसा । शिवदत्तवरान्‌ जष्नुरसुरेन्द्रान सुरा भूशम्‌

Transliteration

arddhamānāś ca vibudhā graheṇa subalīyasā | śivadattavarān jaṣṇur asurendrān surā bhūśam ||

Translation

Васудева сказал: «Когда тот Граха, чрезмерно могучий, начал теснить богов, девы — хотя и были прижаты — нанесли ответный удар и сокрушили владык асуров, получивших дары, дарованные Шивой. Так между ними тянулась долгая война, показывая: даже сила, ограждённая божественным покровом, если обращена к угнетению, неизбежно вызывает сопротивление и затяжной раздор».

Word by Word

• अर्द्धमानाः: being afflicted / tormented
• अर्द्धमानाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्द्धमान (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √अर्द्/अर्द्? अर्थे पीडन/क्लेश; व्यवहारतः 'अर्द्ध' = पीडित)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• विबुधाः: the gods
• विबुधाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: विबुध
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• ग्रहेण: by (the) Graha (seizer/planet/demon named Graha)
• ग्रहेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्रह
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• सुबलीयसा: by the very strong (one)
• सुबलीयसा: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुबलीयस् (बलवत्तर-तुलनात्मक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• शिवदत्तवरान्: those having boons granted by Śiva / Śiva-given boons (as an epithet)
• शिवदत्तवरान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव-दत्त-वर (वर = boon; दत्त = given)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• जघ्नुः: they struck down / slew
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हन्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• असुरेन्द्रान्: the lords of the Asuras
• असुरेन्द्रान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: असुरेन्द्र
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• सुराः: the gods
• सुराः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• भूशम्: exceedingly, greatly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भूशम्

Speaker

वासुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vāsudeva (Kṛṣṇa)
• Graha
• Devas (Suras)
• Asura-lords (Asurendras)
• Śiva (Śaṅkara)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Power—whether innate or protected by divine boons—does not justify oppression; when strength is used to torment others, it provokes rightful resistance and can lead to long, destructive conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

A mighty Graha begins afflicting the devas; the gods, though distressed, retaliate and beat the asura chiefs who possess boons from Śiva, and the struggle continues for a long time.