Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 18

Dhruva’s War with the Yakṣas and the Protection of the Holy Name

Devanagari script

भल्लै: सञ्छिद्यमानानां शिरोभिश्चारुकुण्डलै: । ऊरुभिर्हेमतालाभैर्दोर्भिर्वलयवल्गुभि: ॥ १८ ॥ हारकेयूरमुकुटैरुष्णीषैश्च महाधनै: । आस्तृतास्ता रणभुवो रेजुर्वीरमनोहरा: ॥ १९ ॥

Transliteration

bhallaiḥ sañchidyamānānāṁ śirobhiś cāru-kuṇḍalaiḥ ūrubhir hema-tālābhair dorbhir valaya-valgubhiḥ

Translation

ฤๅษีไมเตรยะกล่าวต่อว่า—โอ้วิดุระ! ศีรษะของผู้ที่ถูกศรภัลละของธรุวะมหาราชตัดขาดนั้น งดงามด้วยต่างหูและผ้าโพกศีรษะ ต้นขาเหมือนต้นตาลทอง แขนประดับกำไลและพาหุรัดทอง และบนศีรษะมีมงกุฎกับหมวกเกราะอันล้ำค่าประดับทอง เครื่องประดับที่เกลื่อนกลาดในสนามรบนั้นชวนตาพราว จนทำให้ใจนักรบยังเคลิบเคลิ้มได้

Synonyms

• bhallaiḥ: with (sharp) arrows
• bhallaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhalla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• sañchidyamānānām: of those being severed
• sañchidyamānānām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Verb
• Root: sam-√chid (छिद् धातु) → sañchidyamāna (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (Present passive participle), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Plural (बहुवचन); ‘of those being cut’

• śirobhiḥ: with heads
• śirobhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śiras (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक अव्यय (conjunction)

• cāru-kuṇḍalaiḥ: with beautiful earrings
• cāru-kuṇḍalaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: cāru (प्रातिपदिक) + kuṇḍala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); कर्मधारयः: ‘cārūṇi kuṇḍalāni’ = ‘beautiful earrings’

• ūrubhiḥ: with thighs
• ūrubhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ūru (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• hema-tālābhaiḥ: with golden (palm-like) ornaments/marks
• hema-tālābhaiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hema (प्रातिपदिक) + tālābha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः: ‘hemasya tālābhāḥ’ = ‘having golden palm-marks/ornaments’; विशेषण of ūrubhiḥ

• dorbhiḥ: with arms
• dorbhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dor (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• valaya-valgubhiḥ: with bracelet-beautified (arms)
• valaya-valgubhiḥ: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: valaya (प्रातिपदिक) + valgu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural (बहुवचन); तृतीया-तत्पुरुष/उपपद-समासभावः: ‘valayaiḥ valgūni’ = ‘beautiful with bracelets’; विशेषण of dorbhiḥ

Purport

It appears that in those days soldiers used to go to the battlefield highly decorated with golden ornaments and with helmets and turbans, and when they were dead the booty was taken by the enemy party. Their falling dead in battle with their many golden ornamental dresses was certainly a lucrative opportunity for the heroes on the battlefield.

Characters & Entities

• Dhruva Mahārāja
• Yakṣas

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Dhruva Maharaja’s battle with the Yakshas?

This verse depicts the fierce intensity of the battle—arrows severing heads, arms, and thighs—showing how violent the conflict became under Dhruva’s wrath.

Why is Śukadeva Gosvāmī describing ornaments like earrings and bracelets on the battlefield?

To emphasize the vivid, realistic scene: even richly adorned warriors fell in combat, highlighting the terrible cost and gravity of unchecked anger in war.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

The verse warns that when anger escalates into retaliation, the outcome becomes destructive; cultivate restraint and seek wise counsel before acting in rage.