Shloka 26

Devanagari script

अक्षौहिण्यो ऽत्र बहुला दिव्यमूर्तिधराः सुराः महाबलानां दृप्तानां दैत्येन्द्राणां ममोपरि

Transliteration

akṣauhiṇyo 'tra bahulā divyamūrtidharāḥ surāḥ mahābalānāṃ dṛptānāṃ daityendrāṇāṃ mamopari

Translation

ณ ที่นี้มีกองทัพอักษเษาหิณีอันใหญ่หลวงมากมาย—หมู่เทพผู้ทรงรูปทิพย์อันรุ่งเรือง; แต่เหนือข้ากลับมีจอมอสูรยืนครอบงำ ผู้มีกำลังมหาศาล เมามัวด้วยทิฐิ และพองด้วยอำนาจ

Word by Word

• अक्षौहिण्यः: (many) armies/akṣauhiṇīs
• अक्षौहिण्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्षौहिणी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; ‘अक्षौहिणी’ = सैन्यसंख्या/सेनाव्यूहः (army-division)

• अत्र: here
• अत्र: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb: here)

• बहुलाः: numerous, abundant
• बहुलाः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बहुल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘अक्षौहिण्यः’)

• दिव्य-मूर्ति-धराः: bearing divine forms
• दिव्य-मूर्ति-धराः: Visheshana (Qualifier/विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दिव्य (प्रातिपदिक) + मूर्ति (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (धातु: धृ ‘to bear’ + कृत्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन; ‘दिव्यां मूर्तिं धरन्ति’ इति षष्ठी/कर्मधारय-प्रायः तत्पुरुषसमासः; विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘सुराः’)

• सुराः: gods
• सुराः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), बहुवचन

• महाबलानाम्: of the very strong
• महाबलानाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; ‘महच्च तत् बलं’ इति कर्मधारयसमासः; विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘दैत्येन्द्राणाम्’)

• दृप्तानाम्: of the arrogant
• दृप्तानाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: दृप्त (धातु: द्रुप्/दृप् ‘to be proud’ + क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त; विशेषणम् (qualifying ‘दैत्येन्द्राणाम्’)

• दैत्येन्द्राणाम्: of the lords of the Daityas
• दैत्येन्द्राणाम्: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दैत्य (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; ‘दैत्यानाम् इन्द्राः’ इति षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषसमासः

• मम: of me / my
• मम: Shashthi-sambandha (Genitive relation/षष्ठीसम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम (pronoun)

• उपरि: upon, on top of
• उपरि: Adhikarana (Location/अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उपरि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपसर्गसदृश/देशवाचक (postposition/adverb: upon, on)

Speaker

Likely a deva (a god) speaking in distress within the narrative setup of Ansha 5; framed by Sage Parāśara’s narration to Maitreya.

Characters & Entities

• Suras (Devas)
• Daityas (demons)
• Daityendras (demon-kings)

FAQs

What is the significance of akṣauhiṇī armies in the Vishnu Purana?

This verse uses “akṣauhiṇyaḥ” to emphasize overwhelming military scale, highlighting how cosmic disorder can become materially dominant—setting the stage for divine restoration of dharma.

How does Sage Parāśara explain the rise of demonic power in this context?

Through the narrative voice, Parāśara frames demonic dominance as a dharmic crisis: despite divine hosts, arrogant Daitya-kings gain ascendancy, prompting the need for Vishnu’s corrective, sovereign action.

What is the theological importance of Vishnu in this setting?

Even when devas appear numerous and radiant, the verse underscores that ultimate protection and rebalancing of cosmic order depends on the Supreme Lord’s will—anticipating Vishnu’s avatāra-centered resolution in Ansha 5.