Shloka 1

Balarāma Slays Balvala and Visits Sacred Tīrthas; He Attempts to Stop Bhīma–Duryodhana

Devanagari script

श्रीशुक उवाच तत: पर्वण्युपावृत्ते प्रचण्ड: पांशुवर्षण: । भीमो वायुरभूद् राजन्पूयगन्धस्तु सर्वश: ॥ १ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-śuka uvāca tataḥ parvaṇy upāvṛtte pracaṇḍaḥ pāṁśu-varṣaṇaḥ bhīmo vāyur abhūd rājan pūya-gandhas tu sarvaśaḥ

Translation

శ్రీ శుకదేవ గోస్వామి పలికారు: ఓ రాజా! అప్పుడు అమావాస్య రోజున, భయంకరమైన గాలి వీచింది, అంతటా దుమ్ము రేపింది మరియు ప్రతిచోటా చీము వాసన వ్యాపించింది.

Synonyms

• śrī-śukaḥ: Śrī Śuka
• śrī-śukaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śrī-śuka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (Masculine), Prathamā vibhakti (Nominative, 1st), Ekavacana (Singular)

• uvāca: said
• uvāca: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vac (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ-lakāra (Perfect), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd person), Ekavacana (Singular), Parasmaipada

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kāla/krama-adhikaraṇa (काल/क्रम-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (kālārtha/krama)

• parvaṇi: at the (seasonal) juncture/turning-point
• parvaṇi: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: parvan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napुṁsakaliṅga (Neuter), Saptamī vibhakti (Locative, 7th), Ekavacana (Singular)

• upāvṛtte: having returned/come about
• upāvṛtte: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: upa-√vṛt (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: Kta-participle (past passive participle), Napuṁsakaliṅga, Saptamī, Ekavacana; agrees with parvaṇi

• pracaṇḍaḥ: fierce
• pracaṇḍaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pracaṇḍa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; qualifies vāyuḥ

• pāṁśu-varṣaṇaḥ: dust-raining (raising a shower of dust)
• pāṁśu-varṣaṇaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pāṁśu (प्रातिपदिक) + varṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; (ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa: pāṁśoḥ varṣaṇaḥ) qualifies vāyuḥ

• bhīmaḥ: terrible
• bhīmaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhīma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; qualifies vāyuḥ

• vāyuḥ: wind
• vāyuḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vāyu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

• abhūt: arose/became
• abhūt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Luṅ-lakāra (Aorist/Imperfect past), Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana, Parasmaipada

• rājan: O king
• rājan: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Sambodhana (Vocative), Ekavacana

• pūya-gandhaḥ: foul-smelling (smelling of pus)
• pūya-gandhaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pūya (प्रातिपदिक) + gandha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; (ṣaṣṭhī-tatpuruṣa: pūyasya gandhaḥ) qualifies vāyuḥ

• tu: and/indeed/but
• tu: Sambandha-bodhaka (सम्बन्ध-बोधक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tu (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya; particle (emphasis/contrast)

• sarvaśaḥ: everywhere; on all sides
• sarvaśaḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रिया-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvaśas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Avyaya; adverb (manner/extent)

Characters & Entities

• Śukadeva Gosvāmī
• King Parīkṣit

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about inauspicious omens and storms?

This verse describes a violent dust-storm and a foul, putrid wind appearing on a significant lunar day—an ominous atmosphere that signals impending hostile or demonic activity in the narrative.

Why did Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe these signs to King Parīkṣit?

Śukadeva sets the scene for the next events in Canto 10, showing how disturbing portents arise as antagonistic forces act, while guiding Parīkṣit to see Kṛṣṇa’s protection behind external turmoil.

Practical application: how should a devotee respond to fearful ‘bad signs’ in life?

Rather than panic at unsettling conditions, a devotee strengthens remembrance of Bhagavān, keeps steady in dharma, and takes shelter of prayer and sādhana—seeing that external disturbance cannot overcome divine protection.