Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 43

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

Devanagari script

ब्रह्मणा प्रेषितो देवान्देवर्षिर्नारदो नृप । वारयामास विबुधान्‍द‍ृष्ट्वा दानवसङ्‌क्षयम् ॥ ४३ ॥

Transliteration

brahmaṇā preṣito devān devarṣir nārado nṛpa vārayām āsa vibudhān dṛṣṭvā dānava-saṅkṣayam

Translation

大王啊，梵天见阿修罗将遭全然灭绝，便遣天仙那罗陀传令；那罗陀来到诸天之前，使他们止战。

Synonyms

• brahmaṇā: by Brahmā
• brahmaṇā: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: brahman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन)

• preṣitaḥ: sent
• preṣitaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: pra-√iṣ (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त/PPP), Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular; agrees with nāradaḥ

• devān: the gods
• devān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Plural

• devarṣiḥ: the divine sage
• devarṣiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: deva (प्रातिपदिक) + ṛṣi (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular; tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी) 'of the gods'

• nāradaḥ: Nārada
• nāradaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārada (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular

• nṛpa: O king
• nṛpa: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nṛpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Vocative (सम्बोधन), Singular

• vārayāma: he restrained
• vārayāma: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: vāraya (causative stem of √vṛ/√vār) (धातु)
• Form: Luṅ (लुङ्/Aorist), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular; causative sense 'caused to desist/checked'

• āsa: did/indeed (aux.)
• āsa: Kriya (क्रिया-सहायक)
• Type: Verb
• Root: as (धातु)
• Form: Luṅ (लुङ्/Aorist), Parasmaipada, 3rd Person, Singular; auxiliary with preceding verb (periphrastic aorist)

• vibudhān: the wise ones (gods)
• vibudhān: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vibudha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Plural

• dṛṣṭvā: having seen
• dṛṣṭvā: Hetu/Prayojana (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: √dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Absolutive/Gerund (क्त्वा), indeclinable; prior action

• dānava-saṅkṣayam: the destruction of the Dānavas
• dānava-saṅkṣayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dānava (प्रातिपदिक) + saṅkṣaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular; tatpuruṣa (षष्ठी) 'destruction of the Dānavas'

Characters & Entities

• Brahmā
• Nārada
• Devas (demigods)
• Dānavas (demons)
• King Parīkṣit

FAQs

Why did Nārada stop the demigods in Bhagavatam 8.11.43?

Because he saw the demons were being destroyed excessively, and he restrained the demigods to prevent needless annihilation and to keep the conflict within dharmic bounds.

Who is speaking this verse in Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 8 Chapter 11?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī is narrating this account to King Parīkṣit.

What is the practical lesson of Bhagavatam 8.11.43 for modern life?

Even when victory is possible, one should act with restraint and higher guidance, avoiding cruelty and excess, and aligning actions with dharma rather than anger.