Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 28

Paugaṇḍa Cowherding, Tālavana, the Slaying of Dhenukāsura, and Revival from Poisoned Yamunā Water

Devanagari script

बल: प्रविश्य बाहुभ्यां तालान् सम्परिकम्पयन् । फलानि पातयामास मतङ्गज इवौजसा ॥ २८ ॥

Transliteration

balaḥ praviśya bāhubhyāṁ tālān samparikampayan phalāni pātayām āsa mataṅ-gaja ivaujasā

Translation

Naunang pumasok si Panginoong Balarāma sa gubat ng Tāla. Pagkaraan, gamit ang dalawang bisig, inuga niya nang malakas ang mga punong tāla na parang mabangis na elepante, kaya nalaglag sa lupa ang mga bunga.

Synonyms

• बलः: Bala (Balarama)
• बलः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन (बलरामः)

• प्रविश्य: having entered
• प्रविश्य: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र + विश् (धातु), ल्यप् (gerund)
• Form: अव्यय-कृदन्त (ल्यप्), पूर्वकालिक क्रिया (having entered)

• बाहुभ्याम्: with (his) two arms
• बाहुभ्याम्: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाहु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), द्विवचन

• तालान्: palm trees
• तालान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ताल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन

• सम्परिकम्पयन्: shaking violently
• सम्परिकम्पयन्: Kriyā-sahakārī (क्रियासहकारी)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + परि + कम्प् (धातु), शतृ-प्रत्यय (वर्तमान कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमान कृदन्त (शतृ), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; क्रियाविशेषणभावे ‘shaking’

• फलानि: fruits
• फलानि: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: फल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/द्वितीया), बहुवचन

• पातयाम्: made (them) fall
• पातयाम्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत् (धातु) causative पातय (णिच्)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect) periphrastic base (आम-प्रयोग), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘पातयाम्’ = causative perfect base ‘made fall’

• आस: did / was (auxiliary)
• आस: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अस् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; सहायक-क्रिया (auxiliary) with periphrastic perfect

• मतङ्गजः: a great elephant
• मतङ्गजः: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मतङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + गज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘मतङ्ग इव गजः’ / ‘elephant (like a matanga)’ = a great elephant

• इव: like
• इव: Upamā (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (उपमावाचक-निपात)

• ओजसा: with strength
• ओजसा: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ओजस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/तृतीया), एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Balarāma

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Balarama’s strength in Vraja-lila?

In this verse, Balarāma shakes the tāla palm trees with His arms and makes the fruits fall, being compared to a powerful elephant—showing His divine, effortless strength in Vraja.

Why is Balarama compared to an elephant in this shloka?

The comparison highlights irresistible power and vigor: just as a mighty elephant can shake trees, Balarāma effortlessly makes the palm fruits drop by shaking the trees.

Practical application of Krishna-lila descriptions in modern life?

Use such vivid līlā verses for daily remembrance (smaraṇa) and devotion—reading, reciting, and contemplating them to steady the mind on the Lord and His associates.