Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 40
Deva–Asura Battle after the Nectar; Bali’s Illusions and Hari’s Intervention
कबन्धास्तत्र चोत्पेतु: पतितस्वशिरोऽक्षिभि: । उद्यतायुधदोर्दण्डैराधावन्तो भटान् मृधे ॥ ४० ॥
kabandhās tatra cotpetuḥ patita-sva-śiro-’kṣibhiḥ udyatāyudha-dordaṇḍair ādhāvanto bhaṭān mṛdhe
Nhiều thân thể không đầu đã trỗi dậy trên chiến trường đó. Với vũ khí trong tay, những thân thể ma quái đó, vốn có thể nhìn thấy bằng đôi mắt trên những chiếc đầu đã rơi xuống, lao vào tấn công binh lính kẻ thù.
It appears that the heroes who died on the battlefield immediately became ghosts, and although their heads had been severed from their bodies, new trunks were generated, and these new trunks, seeing with the eyes in the severed heads, began to attack the enemy. In other words, many ghosts were generated to join the fight, and thus new trunks appeared on the battlefield.
FAQs
This verse gives a vivid battlefield detail: even headless trunks rise and rush with weapons, emphasizing the ferocity and astonishing nature of the conflict between the devas and asuras.
Śukadeva Gosvāmī narrates these events to Mahārāja Parīkṣit as part of the account of the demigods and demons fighting during the churning-of-the-ocean era.
It can deepen vairāgya (detachment) by reminding us of the body’s fragility and the chaos of material struggle, encouraging shelter in bhakti and remembrance of the Lord beyond the battlefield of life.