Shloka 23

Balarāma Slays the Ape Dvivida

Dvivida-vadha

Devanagari script

ततोऽमुञ्चच्छिलावर्षं बलस्योपर्यमर्षित: । तत्सर्वं चूर्णयामास लीलया मुषलायुध: ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

tato ’muñcac chilā-varṣaṁ balasyopary amarṣitaḥ tat sarvaṁ cūrṇayāṁ āsa līlayā muṣalāyudhaḥ

Translation

Con khỉ giận dữ liền trút xuống một cơn mưa đá lên Đức Balarāma, nhưng Đấng cầm chùy đã ung dung nghiền nát tất cả như một trò chơi thiêng liêng.

Synonyms

• tataḥ: then
• tataḥ: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: tataḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनन्तरता-बोधक (then)

• amuñcat: released/let loose
• amuñcat: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √muc (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• śilā-varṣam: a shower of stones
• śilā-varṣam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: śilā (प्रातिपदिक) + varṣa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; समासः—तत्पुरुषः (शिलानां वर्षः)

• balasya: of Balarāma
• balasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bala (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• upari: upon
• upari: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative sense)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: upari (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपरि (preposition/adverb: upon/above)

• amarṣitaḥ: enraged
• amarṣitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject—qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: amarṣita (कृदन्त, √mṛṣ with a-)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; विशेषण (one who is intolerant/enraged)

• tat: that
• tat: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• sarvam: all of it
• sarvam: Karma (कर्म/Object—qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sarva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (tat)

• cūrṇayāmāsa: pulverized
• cūrṇayāmāsa: Kriya (क्रिया/Predicate)
• Type: Verb
• Root: cūrṇaya (नामधातु from cūrṇa) + √as (धातु, auxiliary)
• Form: नामधातु-प्रयोगः; लिट्/परिप्रयोग (periphrastic perfect): cūrṇayām āsa; प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन

• līlayā: playfully/easily
• līlayā: Karana (करण/Instrument—manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: līlā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन

• muṣala-āyudhaḥ: he whose weapon is a club (Balarāma)
• muṣala-āyudhaḥ: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: muṣala (प्रातिपदिक) + āyudha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहिः (मूषलम् आयुधं यस्य)

Purport

Śrīla Prabhupāda writes: “When no more trees were available, Dvivida took help from the hills and threw large pieces of stone, like rainfall, upon the body of Balarāma. Lord Balarāma, in a great sporting mood, began to smash those big pieces of stone into mere pebbles.” Even today there are many sports wherein people enjoy striking a ball or similar object with a stick or bat. This sporting propensity exists originally in the Supreme Personality of Godhead, who playfully ( līlayā ) pulverized the deadly boulders hurled at Him by the powerful Dvivida.

Characters & Entities

• Balarāma

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam 10.67.23 say about Balarama’s power?

It shows that even a violent shower of stones cannot harm Him—Balarāma pulverizes it effortlessly, revealing divine strength expressed as līlā (play).

Why were stones thrown at Balarama in Canto 10 Chapter 67?

In this battle episode, an enraged opponent attacks Balarāma with a barrage of stones, but the Lord neutralizes the assault with ease.

What is the practical application of this verse in modern life?

When faced with sudden obstacles or hostility, a devotee remembers the Lord’s protecting strength and remains steady, responding without panic or hatred.