Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 30

Indra Slays Namuci—The Limits of Power and the Triumph of Divine Strategy

Devanagari script

अश्मसारमयं शूलं घण्टावद्धेमभूषणम् । प्रगृह्याभ्यद्रवत् क्रुद्धो हतोऽसीति वितर्जयन् । प्राहिणोद् देवराजाय निनदन् मृगराडिव ॥ ३० ॥

Transliteration

aśmasāramayaṁ śūlaṁ ghaṇṭāvad dhema-bhūṣaṇam pragṛhyābhyadravat kruddho hato ’sīti vitarjayan prāhiṇod deva-rājāya ninadan mṛga-rāḍ iva

Translation

Giận dữ và gầm lên như sư tử, con quỷ Namuci cầm lấy một ngọn giáo thép, được buộc chuông và trang trí bằng đồ trang sức bằng vàng. Hắn lớn tiếng hét lên, 'Bây giờ ngươi đã chết!' Như vậy, tiến đến trước Indra để giết ngài, Namuci đã phóng vũ khí của mình.

Synonyms

• aśma-sāra-mayam: made of adamant/stone-essence
• aśma-sāra-mayam: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: aśman (प्रातिपदिक) + sāra (प्रातिपदिक) + maya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; बहुपद-तत्पुरुष ‘aśma-sārasya mayam’ = ‘made of stone-essence/adamant’ ; agrees with śūlam

• śūlam: a spear/trident
• śūlam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śūla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• ghaṇṭā-vat: bell-like/with a bell
• ghaṇṭā-vat: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ghaṇṭā (प्रातिपदिक) + vat (प्रत्यय)
• Form: Indeclinable-like adjectival form with -वत्; here used as neuter accusative singular agreeing with śūlam; ‘having/like a bell’

• hema-bhūṣaṇam: adorned with gold ornaments
• hema-bhūṣaṇam: Karma-viśeṣaṇa (कर्मविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hema (प्रातिपदिक) + bhūṣaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘hemasya bhūṣaṇam’ used adjectivally; agrees with śūlam

• pragṛhya: having seized
• pragṛhya: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-grah (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वान्त)

• abhyadravat: rushed toward
• abhyadravat: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: abhi-dru (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person, Singular; parasmaipada

• kruddhaḥ: enraged
• kruddhaḥ: Karta-viśeṣaṇa (कर्तृविशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: krudh (धातु)
• Form: Past participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; agrees with (Namuci) implied subject

• hataḥ: slain
• hataḥ: Sambandha (उक्तिविषय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: han (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; used predicatively in direct speech

• asi: you are
• asi: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: Present (लट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Singular; parasmaipada

• iti: thus
• iti: Vākyārtha-dyotaka (वाक्यार्थद्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iti (अव्यय)
• Form: Quotative particle (उक्तिसूचक निपात)

• vitarjayan: taunting
• vitarjayan: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: tarj (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; with prefix vi-; ‘threatening/taunting’

• prāhiṇot: he hurled/sent forth
• prāhiṇot: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: pra-hi (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), 3rd person, Singular; parasmaipada; final -t due to sandhi before deva-

• deva-rājāya: to the king of the gods (Indra)
• deva-rājāya: Sampradāna (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + rāja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ‘devānāṁ rājā’

• ninadan: roaring
• ninadan: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nad (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; with prefix ni-; ‘roaring’

• mṛga-rāṭ: a lion
• mṛga-rāṭ: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: mṛga (प्रातिपदिक) + rāṭ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Singular; उपपद-तत्पुरुष ‘mṛgāṇāṁ rāṭ’ = ‘lion’

• iva: like
• iva: Upamā-dyotaka (उपमाद्योतक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iva (अव्यय)
• Form: Comparative particle (उपमावाचक अव्यय)

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Bali Mahārāja

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam describe about the Deva-Asura war in Canto 8 Chapter 11?

This verse depicts a fierce battlefield moment where an enraged warrior seizes a bell-adorned golden trident and hurls it at Indra, the king of the demigods, roaring like a lion.

Why is Indra called 'devarāja' in this Bhagavatam verse?

Because Indra is the ruler and chief of the devas (demigods), the verse identifies him by his role—'devarāja,' the king of the gods—showing the trident was aimed at the leader of the heavenly hosts.

What is a practical takeaway from this shloka for modern life?

It highlights how anger amplifies conflict and aggression; a devotee learns to restrain rage and act with steadiness, seeking divine guidance rather than being driven by provocation.