Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 52

Deva–Asura Battle after the Nectar; Bali’s Illusions and Hari’s Intervention

Devanagari script

एवं दैत्यैर्महामायैरलक्ष्यगतिभीरणे । सृज्यमानासु मायासु विषेदु: सुरसैनिका: ॥ ५२ ॥

Transliteration

evaṁ daityair mahā-māyair alakṣya-gatibhī raṇe sṛjyamānāsu māyāsu viṣeduḥ sura-sainikāḥ

Translation

ดังนี้ เมื่อเหล่าอสูรผู้ชำนาญมหามายาและเคลื่อนไหวลี้ลับ สร้างมายาในสนามรบ กองทหารเทวะก็เศร้าหมองสิ้นกำลังใจ

Synonyms

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: सम्बन्ध (Manner adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, प्रकारवाचक (adverb: thus/in this manner)

• दैत्यैः: by the demons
• दैत्यैः: करण/कर्ता (Instrument/Agent)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• महामायैः: with great magical powers
• महामायैः: विशेषण (to दैत्यैः)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महामाय (प्रातिपदिक; महा + माया)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, तृतीया, बहुवचन; कर्मधारय (greatly magical/possessing great illusion)

• अलक्ष्य-गति-भी: (in) fearsome (battle) with imperceptible movements
• अलक्ष्य-गति-भी: विशेषण (to रण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अलक्ष्य + गति + भी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, सप्तमी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः: 'अलक्ष्या गतिः यस्याः सा' (hard-to-perceive movement) + भी (fear) as qualifier; used with रण (locative) as epithet of battle

• रणे: in battle
• रणे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग/पुंलिङ्ग (usage varies; here locative), सप्तमी, एकवचन

• सृज्यमानासु: while (they were) being produced
• सृज्यमानासु: विशेषण (to मायासु)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सृज् (धातु) + शानच् (कृदन्त; वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त (present passive participle), स्त्रीलिङ्गः, सप्तमी, बहुवचन; 'being created/being produced'

• मायासु: in the illusions
• मायासु: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: माया (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्गः, सप्तमी, बहुवचन

• विषेदुः: they despaired, became dejected
• विषेदुः: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: षद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/लिट्), परस्मैपदम्, प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; वि-उपसर्गः; 'became despondent'

• सुर-सैनिकाः: the soldiers of the gods
• सुर-सैनिकाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर + सैनिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्गः, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (soldiers of the gods)

Characters & Entities

• Daityas
• Suras (demigods)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about being bewildered by māyā?

This verse shows that even powerful beings like the demigods can become disheartened when confronted by terrifying, hard-to-detect illusions; steadiness and divine shelter are needed to overcome māyā.

Why were the demigods discouraged in the Deva-Asura battle (Canto 8, Chapter 10)?

Because the Daityas, skilled in great magical arts, generated frightening illusions with imperceptible movements, which confused and weakened the demigod soldiers.

Practical application of this verse in modern life?

When fear, misinformation, or mental illusions cloud judgment, pause and seek clarity through sādhana—prayer, scriptural guidance, and good association—rather than acting from confusion.