Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvitiya Skandha, Shloka 25

Bhagavān’s Avatāras, Their Protections (Poṣaṇa), and the Limits of Knowing Him

Devanagari script

वक्ष:स्थलस्पर्शरुग्नमहेन्द्रवाह- दन्तैर्विडम्बितककुब्जुष ऊढहासम् । सद्योऽसुभि: सह विनेष्यति दारहर्तु- र्विस्फूर्जितैर्धनुष उच्चरतोऽधिसैन्ये ॥ २५ ॥

Transliteration

vakṣaḥ-sthala-sparśa-rugna-mahendra-vāha- dantair viḍambita-kakubjuṣa ūḍha-hāsam sadyo ’subhiḥ saha vineṣyati dāra-hartur visphūrjitair dhanuṣa uccarato ’dhisainye

Translation

Trong chiến trận, ngà của voi Airāvata—vật cưỡi của Indra—vỡ vụn khi va vào ngực Rāvaṇa, những mảnh vỡ như chiếu sáng khắp các phương. Rāvaṇa vì thế kiêu ngạo, cười ngạo nghễ và đi lại giữa quân sĩ như kẻ chinh phục mọi hướng; nhưng ngay khi tiếng rung rền của cây cung Đức Bhagavān Rāmacandra vang lên, tiếng cười và cả sinh khí của hắn lập tức tắt lịm.

Synonyms

• vakṣaḥ-sthala-sparśa-rugna-mahendra-vāha-dantaiḥ: with the tusks of Indra’s mount, injured by contact with (his) chest
• vakṣaḥ-sthala-sparśa-rugna-mahendra-vāha-dantaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vakṣas (प्रातिपदिक) + sthala (प्रातिपदिक) + sparśa (प्रातिपदिक) + rugna (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + mahendra (प्रातिपदिक) + vāha (प्रातिपदिक) + danta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; tatpuruṣa chain; head: dantaiḥ; vigraha: mahendrasya vāhasya (airāvatasya) dantāḥ, ye vakṣaḥ-sthala-sparśena rugnāḥ

• viḍambita-kakubjuṣaḥ: of (him) whose hump/shoulder was disfigured
• viḍambita-kakubjuṣaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: viḍambita (कृदन्त, √ḍamb/vi-ḍamb) + kakubjū (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; qualifying dāra-hartuḥ; 'of the one whose hump/shoulder-region was mocked/deformed'

• ūḍha-hāsam: (him) with a broad/loud laugh
• ūḍha-hāsam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ūḍha (कृदन्त, √vah) + hāsa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; tatpuruṣa: ūḍhaḥ hāsaḥ yasya tam

• sadyaḥ: immediately
• sadyaḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sadyaḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण-अव्यय)

• asubhiḥ: with (his) lives/breaths
• asubhiḥ: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asu (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• saha: together with
• saha: Sahakāraka (सहकारक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: saha (अव्यय)
• Form: Preposition-like indeclinable (सह-अव्यय) expressing accompaniment

• vineṣyati: will destroy/dispatch
• vineṣyati: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: nī (धातु) with vi- (उपसर्ग)
• Form: Luṭ (Simple Future/लुट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person (प्रथम-पुरुष), Singular; causative sense not intended; 'will lead to destruction/remove'

• dāra-hartuḥ: of the wife-stealer
• dāra-hartuḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dāra (प्रातिपदिक) + hartṛ (प्रातिपदिक from √hṛ)
• Form: Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; tatpuruṣa: dārān harati iti

• visphūrjitaiḥ: by the resounding twangs
• visphūrjitaiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: visphūrjita (कृदन्त from √sphūrj with vi-)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural; used as 'by the twangs/roars'

• dhanuṣaḥ: of the bow
• dhanuṣaḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dhanus (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular

• uccarataḥ: of (him) shouting/uttering
• uccarataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: uccar (धातु)
• Form: Śatṛ (Present active participle/शतृ), Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; 'of (him) uttering/raising' (agreeing with dāra-hartuḥ)

• adhisainye: in/over the army
• adhisainye: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adhi (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + sainya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; avyayībhāva: adhi sainye = 'over/among the army'

Purport

However powerful a living being may be, when he is condemned by God no one can save him, and, similarly, however weak one may be, if he is protected by the Lord no one can annihilate him.

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Rāma
• Rāvaṇa
• Indra
• Airāvata

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Lord Rama killing Ravana?

This verse foretells that the Lord, as Śrī Rāma, will destroy Rāvaṇa—the abductor of another’s wife—swiftly, while His bowstring resounds amid the enemy army.

Why does the Bhagavatam mention Indra’s elephant and broken tusks here?

It poetically depicts the Lord’s overwhelming prowess: even the mighty Airāvata’s tusks are broken upon His chest, and the Lord laughs—showing the enemy’s power is insignificant before Him.

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

It reinforces dharma: wrongdoing—especially exploitation and violation of others—ultimately meets divine justice, while surrender to the Lord’s protection strengthens moral courage.