Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 26

Śālva Attacks Dvārakā; Pradyumna Leads the Defense

Saubha-vimāna and Māyā-yuddha

Devanagari script

शाल्वामात्यो द्युमान्नाम प्रद्युम्नं प्राक्प्रपीडित: । आसाद्य गदया मौर्व्या व्याहत्य व्यनदद् बली ॥ २६ ॥

Transliteration

śālvāmātyo dyumān nāma pradyumnaṁ prak prapīḍitaḥ āsādya gadayā maurvyā vyāhatya vyanadad balī

Translation

Si Dyumān, ministro ni Śālva na dati nang nasugatan ni Śrī Pradyumna, ay muling sumugod palapit; at habang umuungal nang malakas, hinampas niya Siya ng kanyang maitim na bakal na pamalo.

Synonyms

• śālva-āmātyaḥ: Śālva’s minister
• śālva-āmātyaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śālva + āmātya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (śālvasya āmātyaḥ)

• dyumān: Dyumān
• dyumān: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dyumat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; नाम (proper name)

• nāma: by name
• nāma: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: nāma (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; नाम-निर्देशक (particle indicating ‘by name’)

• pradyumnam: Pradyumna
• pradyumnam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pradyumna (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• prāk: first, previously
• prāk: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: prāk (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb: ‘previously/first’)

• prapīḍitaḥ: having been hard-pressed
• prapīḍitaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-√pīḍ (पीड् धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; ‘having been oppressed/pressed hard’

• āsādya: having approached
• āsādya: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ā-√sad (सद् धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund) ‘having approached/attacked’

• gadayā: with a mace
• gadayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gadā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन

• maurvyā: made of/connected with murva (a kind of fiber)
• maurvyā: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: maurvī (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; gadayā इत्यस्य विशेषणम्

• vyāhatya: having struck
• vyāhatya: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: vi-ā-√han (हन् धातु)
• Form: कृदन्त; ल्यप् (absolutive/gerund) ‘having struck down/smitten’

• vyanadat: roared, sounded
• vyanadat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vi-√nad (नद् धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• balī: the strong one
• balī: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: balin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; कर्तृविशेषणम्

Characters & Entities

• Śālva
• Dyumān
• Pradyumna

FAQs

Who is Dyumān in Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 10 Chapter 76?

Dyumān is described as Śālva’s minister who confronts Pradyumna in battle and strikes him with a powerful club, roaring in confidence.

Why did Dyumān attack Pradyumna in the Śālva episode?

The verse states Dyumān had previously been oppressed by Pradyumna, so he approaches him again in the ongoing Dvārakā battle and retaliates by striking him with a club.

What is a practical lesson for devotees from this Bhagavatam battle verse?

Even in intense conflict and apparent reversals, the Bhagavatam highlights steadiness and duty—encouraging devotees to remain composed, faithful, and responsible in their own struggles.