Shloka 4

Balarāma Slays Balvala and Visits Sacred Tīrthas; He Attempts to Stop Bhīma–Duryodhana

Devanagari script

तं विलोक्य बृहत्कायं भिन्नाञ्जनचयोपमम् । तप्तताम्रशिखाश्मश्रुं दंष्ट्रोग्रभ्रुकुटीमुखम् ॥ ३ ॥ सस्मार मूषलं राम: परसैन्यविदारणम् । हलं च दैत्यदमनं ते तूर्णमुपतस्थतु: ॥ ४ ॥

Transliteration

taṁ vilokya bṛhat-kāyaṁ bhinnāñjana-cayopamam tapta-tāmra-śikhā-śmaśruṁ daṁṣṭrogra-bhru-kuṭī-mukham

Translation

Ang dambuhalang demonyo ay kahawig ng isang tumpok ng itim na karbon. Ang kanyang pusod at balbas ay parang tunaw na tanso, at ang kanyang mukha ay may kakila-kilabot na mga pangil at nakakunot na kilay. Nang makita siya, naisip ni Panginoong Balarama ang Kanyang pamalo, na dumudurog sa mga hukbo ng Kanyang mga kaaway, at ang Kanyang sandatang araro, na nagpaparusa sa mga demonyo. Sa gayon ay ipinatawag, ang Kanyang dalawang sandata ay lumitaw sa Kanyang harapan kaagad.

Synonyms

• tam: him
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• ākṛṣya: having dragged/pulled
• ākṛṣya: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ā-√kṛṣ (धातु) + lyap (ल्यप्)
• Form: Absolutive (gerund), avyaya; prior action

• halāgreṇa: with the plough’s tip
• halāgreṇa: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hala (प्रातिपदिक) + agra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṁsakaliṅga, Tṛtīyā (Instrumental), Ekavacana; (tatpuruṣa: 'with the tip of the plough')

• balvalam: Balvala
• balvalam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: balvala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana

• gagana-caram: moving in the sky; airborne
• gagana-caram: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: gagana (प्रातिपदिक) + cara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; qualifies balvalam; (tatpuruṣa: 'moving in the sky')

• mūṣalena: with the club
• mūṣalena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūṣala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napuṁsakaliṅga, Tṛtīyā, Ekavacana

• ahanat: struck
• ahanat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: han (धातु)
• Form: Laṅ-lakāra (Imperfect), Prathama-puruṣa, Ekavacana, Parasmaipada

• kruddhaḥ: enraged
• kruddhaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: √krudh (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
• Form: Kta-participle used adjectivally, Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana; qualifies balaḥ

• mūrdhni: on the head
• mūrdhni: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mūrdhan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Saptamī (Locative), Ekavacana

• brahma-druham: brahmin-hating; offender against Brahman
• brahma-druham: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक) + druh (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Dvitīyā, Ekavacana; qualifies balvalam; (upapada-tatpuruṣa: 'one who harms brāhmaṇas/Brahman')

• balaḥ: Bala (Balarāma)
• balaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga, Prathamā, Ekavacana

Characters & Entities

• Balarāma (Rāma)

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about Balarama’s weapons (plow and club)?

In this verse, Śukadeva describes that when danger appeared, Balarāma simply remembered His divine club (mūsala) and plow (hala), and they immediately manifested—showing His supreme, effortless power and readiness to protect dharma.

Why did Balarama remember His weapons when he saw the terrifying being?

Because the figure before Him was fearsome and hostile in appearance; as the divine protector, Balarāma prepared to destroy the enemy’s strength by summoning His characteristic weapons that subdue demons and shatter opposing armies.

How can devotees apply the lesson of this shloka in modern life?

When confronted with fear or opposition, one can remember the Lord with faith and steadiness—taking refuge in divine protection rather than panic—while doing one’s duty with courage and clarity.