Srimad Bhagavatam — Chaturtha Skandha, Shloka 27

Dhruva’s War with the Yakṣas and the Protection of the Holy Name

Devanagari script

समुद्र ऊर्मिभिर्भीम: प्लावयन् सर्वतो भुवम् । आससाद महाह्राद: कल्पान्त इव भीषण: ॥ २७ ॥

Transliteration

samudra ūrmibhir bhīmaḥ plāvayan sarvato bhuvam āsasāda mahā-hrādaḥ kalpānta iva bhīṣaṇaḥ

Translation

پھر گویا قیامتِ عالم کا وقت ہو، جھاگ بھری خوفناک لہروں والا تند سمندر زبردست گرج کے ساتھ ہر طرف زمین کو ڈبو تا ہوا اس کے سامنے آ پہنچا۔

Synonyms

• samudraḥ: the ocean
• samudraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: samudra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• ūrmibhiḥ: with waves
• ūrmibhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ūrmi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन

• bhīmaḥ: terrible
• bhīmaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhīma (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समुद्रस्य विशेषणम्

• plāvayan: flooding; causing to float
• plāvayan: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: plu (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (present causative/णिच् participle) from √plu/√plāv (plāvayati), परस्मैपदी; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• sarvataḥ: on all sides
• sarvataḥ: Deśa-viśeṣaṇa (देश-विशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sarvatas (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय, सर्वदिक्-अर्थे (from all sides)

• bhuvam: the earth
• bhuvam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhū (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• āsasāda: assailed; came upon
• āsasāda: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ā-sad (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; अर्थे: ‘approached/assailed’

• mahā-hrādaḥ: a great roaring surge
• mahā-hrādaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mahā (प्रातिपदिक) + hrāda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: ‘महान् ह्रादः’ (great roaring/surge)

• kalpa-antaḥ: the end of an aeon
• kalpa-antaḥ: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: kalpa (प्रातिपदिक) + anta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘कल्पस्य अन्तः’ (end of an aeon)

• iva: as if; like
• iva: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमा-द्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-वाचक अव्यय (particle of comparison)

• bhīṣaṇaḥ: dreadful
• bhīṣaṇaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bhīṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; महाह्रादस्य विशेषणम्

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about pralaya-like destruction imagery?

This verse compares a terrifying, wave-like tumult to the devastation at the end of the age (kalpānta), showing how overwhelming violence and uproar can resemble cosmic dissolution in its intensity.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī describe the scene like an ocean flooding the earth?

He uses vivid, cosmic-scale imagery to convey that the roar and chaos of the conflict had become all-pervading and fearsome, spreading everywhere like waves overtaking the land.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

The verse warns how unchecked conflict can grow until it feels all-consuming; a devotee learns to restrain anger and seek dharmic resolution before turmoil “floods” one’s life and mind.