Shloka 81

Śiva-nāmānukīrtana-prastāvaḥ

Prologue to the praise of Śiva and the Upamanyu testimony

Devanagari script

अर्द्धमानाश्च विबुधा ग्रहेण सुबलीयसा । शिवदत्तवरान्‌ जष्नुरसुरेन्द्रान सुरा भूशम्‌

Transliteration

arddhamānāś ca vibudhā graheṇa subalīyasā | śivadattavarān jaṣṇur asurendrān surā bhūśam ||

Translation

واسودیو نے کہا—جب وہ نہایت طاقتور گراہ دیوتاؤں کو ستانے لگا تو دیوتا دباؤ میں ہونے کے باوجود شیو کے عطا کردہ ور والے اسوروں کے سرداروں پر پلٹ کر حملہ آور ہوئے اور انہیں پچھاڑا؛ یوں ان کے درمیان طویل مدت تک جنگ جاری رہی۔

Word by Word

• अर्द्धमानाः: being afflicted / tormented
• अर्द्धमानाः: Karta
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अर्द्धमान (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √अर्द्/अर्द्? अर्थे पीडन/क्लेश; व्यवहारतः 'अर्द्ध' = पीडित)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• च: and
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च

• विबुधाः: the gods
• विबुधाः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: विबुध
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• ग्रहेण: by (the) Graha (seizer/planet/demon named Graha)
• ग्रहेण: Karana
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्रह
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental, Singular

• सुबलीयसा: by the very strong (one)
• सुबलीयसा: Karana
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुबलीयस् (बलवत्तर-तुलनात्मक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental, Singular

• शिवदत्तवरान्: those having boons granted by Śiva / Śiva-given boons (as an epithet)
• शिवदत्तवरान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: शिव-दत्त-वर (वर = boon; दत्त = given)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• जघ्नुः: they struck down / slew
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हन्
• Form: Perfect (Liṭ), 3rd, Plural, Parasmaipada

• असुरेन्द्रान्: the lords of the Asuras
• असुरेन्द्रान्: Karma
• Type: Noun
• Root: असुरेन्द्र
• Form: Masculine, Accusative, Plural

• सुराः: the gods
• सुराः: Karta
• Type: Noun
• Root: सुर
• Form: Masculine, Nominative, Plural

• भूशम्: exceedingly, greatly
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: भूशम्

Speaker

वासुदेव उवाच

Characters & Entities

• Vāsudeva (Kṛṣṇa)
• Graha
• Devas (Suras)
• Asura-lords (Asurendras)
• Śiva (Śaṅkara)

Educational Q&A

What is the core teaching?

Power—whether innate or protected by divine boons—does not justify oppression; when strength is used to torment others, it provokes rightful resistance and can lead to long, destructive conflict.

What is happening in the narrative?

A mighty Graha begins afflicting the devas; the gods, though distressed, retaliate and beat the asura chiefs who possess boons from Śiva, and the struggle continues for a long time.