Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 20
Dadhīci’s Supreme Charity and the Opening of Indra’s War with Vṛtrāsura
नमुचि: शम्बरोऽनर्वा द्विमूर्धा ऋषभोऽसुर: । हयग्रीव: शङ्कुशिरा विप्रचित्तिरयोमुख: ॥ १९ ॥ पुलोमा वृषपर्वा च प्रहेतिर्हेतिरुत्कल: । दैतेया दानवा यक्षा रक्षांसि च सहस्रश: ॥ २० ॥ सुमालिमालिप्रमुखा: कार्तस्वरपरिच्छदा: । प्रतिषिध्येन्द्रसेनाग्रं मृत्योरपि दुरासदम् ॥ २१ ॥ अभ्यर्दयन्नसम्भ्रान्ता: सिंहनादेन दुर्मदा: । गदाभि: परिघैर्बाणै: प्रासमुद्गरतोमरै: ॥ २२ ॥
namuciḥ śambaro ’narvā dvimūrdhā ṛṣabho ’suraḥ hayagrīvaḥ śaṅkuśirā vipracittir ayomukhaḥ
Daang-daang libo ang mga daitya-dānava, yakṣa at rākṣasa—pinamunuan nina Sumāli at Māli—na nakabihis ng gintong palamuti, at hinarang nila ang unahang hanay ng hukbo ni Indra na kahit si Kamatayan ay mahirap daigin. Kabilang sa kanila sina Namuci, Śambara, Anarvā, Dvimūrdhā, Ṛṣabha, Hayagrīva, Śaṅkuśirā, Vipracitti, Ayomukha, Pulomā, Vṛṣaparvā, Praheti, Heti at Utkala. Umuungal na parang mga leon, walang takot at mapagmataas, sinaktan nila ang mga deva gamit ang mga sandatang gaya ng pamalo, bakal na panghampas, palaso, sibat, maso at lansang-talim.
FAQs
The verse lists prominent asuras who came to fight: Namuci, Śambara, Anarvā, Dvimūrdhā, the asura Ṛṣabha, Hayagrīva, Śaṅkuśirā, Vipracitti, and Ayomukha.
He is describing the scale of the devasura conflict—many powerful asuras assembled to oppose Indra’s side, emphasizing the intensity of the war surrounding Vṛtrāsura’s appearance.
It highlights how collective strength without dharma—when driven by envy and opposition to the divine order—still leads to fear and ruin, encouraging alignment with righteous principles and devotion.