Shloka 23

Bali Mahārāja’s Empowerment and Conquest of Indra’s City

Prelude to Vāmana’s Petition

Devanagari script

तां देवधानीं स वरूथिनीपति- र्बहि: समन्ताद् रुरुधे पृतन्यया । आचार्यदत्तं जलजं महास्वनं दध्मौ प्रयुञ्जन्भयमिन्द्रयोषिताम् ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

tāṁ deva-dhānīṁ sa varūthinī-patir bahiḥ samantād rurudhe pṛtanyayā ācārya-dattaṁ jalajaṁ mahā-svanaṁ dadhmau prayuñjan bhayam indra-yoṣitām

Translation

พญาพลิ ผู้เป็นจอมทัพแห่งกองทหารนับไม่ถ้วน ได้ล้อมเทวธานีของพระอินทร์จากภายนอกทุกทิศแล้วบุกโจมตี เขาเป่าสังข์กึกก้องที่อาจารย์ศุกราจารย์มอบให้ ทำให้สตรีผู้ได้รับการคุ้มครองจากพระอินทร์หวาดหวั่น

Synonyms

• tām: that (city)
• tām: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; demonstrative pronoun

• deva-dhānīm: the city of the gods
• deva-dhānīm: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + dhānī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; समासः—तत्पुरुष (देवानां धानी = देव-नगरी)

• saḥ: he
• saḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; pronoun

• varūthinī-patiḥ: the lord/commander of the army
• varūthinī-patiḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varūthinī (प्रातिपदिक) + pati (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; समासः—तत्पुरुष (वरूथिन्याः पतिḥ = commander/lord of the army)

• bahiḥ: outside
• bahiḥ: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: bahiḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• samantāt: on all sides
• samantāt: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: samantāt (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) meaning ‘on all sides’

• rurudhe: besieged, blocked
• rurudhe: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √rudh (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्/perfect), Ātmanepada; 3rd person, Singular

• pṛtanyayā: with an army
• pṛtanyayā: Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pṛtanā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular

• ācārya-dattam: given by the teacher (preceptor)
• ācārya-dattam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ācārya (प्रातिपदिक) + datta (कृदन्त from √dā)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; PPP ‘datta’; समासः—तत्पुरुष (आचार्येण दत्तम्)

• jalajam: a conch (born in water)
• jalajam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: jalaja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• mahā-svanam: loud-sounding
• mahā-svanam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + svana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; समासः—कर्मधारय (महान् स्वनः यस्य)

• dadhmau: blew (the conch)
• dadhmau: Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √dhmā (धातु)
• Form: Liṭ (लिट्/perfect), Parasmaipada; 3rd person, Singular

• prayuñjan: producing, causing
• prayuñjan: Karta (कर्ता/Agent)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-√yuj (धातु) (कृदन्त)
• Form: Present Active Participle (शतृ); Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; agrees with ‘saḥ’

• bhayam: fear
• bhayam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular

• indra-yoṣitām: of Indra’s women
• indra-yoṣitām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: indra (प्रातिपदिक) + yoṣit (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural; समासः—तत्पुरुष (इन्द्रस्य योषितः)

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Śukrācārya
• Bali Mahārāja

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the demigods being attacked by the demons?

This verse describes the asura commander besieging the demigods’ city and using a powerful conch to spread terror—showing how the devas sometimes face overwhelming adversity due to shifting karmic and cosmic circumstances.

Why did Bali Maharaja’s side blow a conch-shell given by the teacher (Shukracharya)?

The conch-shell, received through the ācārya’s favor, symbolizes sanctioned military strength and morale; its thunderous blast was used as psychological warfare to intimidate Indra’s household and the heavenly residents.

Practical application of this Bhagavatam verse in modern life?

It highlights how fear can be amplified through intimidation and noise; a devotee learns to stay steady in dharma and take shelter of the Lord rather than becoming shaken by external threats.