Srimad Bhagavatam — Ashtama Skandha, Shloka 47

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

Devanagari script

तत्राविनष्टावयवान् विद्यमानशिरोधरान् । उशना जीवयामास संजीवन्या स्वविद्यया ॥ ४७ ॥

Transliteration

tatrāvinaṣṭāvayavān vidyamāna-śirodharān uśanā jīvayām āsa saṁjīvanyā sva-vidyayā

Translation

在那里那座山上，舒克拉阿阇黎以自己名为“桑吉瓦尼”的咒术，使那些头颅、躯干与四肢未毁的阿修罗战士起死回生。

Synonyms

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative setting)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक-अव्यय (locative adverb)

• अविनष्ट-अवयवान्: (those) whose limbs were not destroyed / intact-limbed
• अविनष्ट-अवयवान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अविनष्ट (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + अवयव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), बहुवचन; विशेषण; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय-प्रायः (अविनष्टाः अवयवाः यस्य/ये)

• विद्यमान-शिरोधरान्: having their heads still present / with heads intact
• विद्यमान-शिरोधरान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: विद्यमान (कृदन्त, √विद्/√अस् भावे, वर्तमानकाले) + शिरोधर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), बहुवचन; विशेषण; कर्मधारयः (विद्यमानाः शिरोधराः येषाम्/ये)

• उशना: Uśanā (Śukra)
• उशना: कर्ता (Kartā/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: उशनस्/उशना (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; ऋषि-नाम (Śukrācārya)

• जीवयाम्: revived (caused to live)
• जीवयाम्: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √जीव् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्/परिप्रास-रचना; ‘जीवयाम्’ = √जीव् णिच् (causative) लिट्-आदेश/आम-प्रत्यय (periphrastic perfect base), परस्मैपद; क्रियापद-भागः

• आस: did / was (auxiliary in periphrastic perfect)
• आस: क्रिया (Verb/Action)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √अस् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद; परिप्रास-लिट् सहायकक्रिया

• संजीवन्या: by the Saṁjīvanī (reviving) [mantra/knowledge]
• संजीवन्या: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संजीवनी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; साधन/करणवाचक

• स्व-विद्यया: by his own knowledge
• स्व-विद्यया: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + विद्या (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/करण), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (स्वस्य विद्या)

Characters & Entities

• Uśanā (Śukrācārya)

FAQs

What is the Sañjīvanī vidyā mentioned in Srimad Bhagavatam?

In this verse, Sañjīvanī vidyā is the life-restoring mantra/knowledge possessed by Śukrācārya (Uśanā), by which he revives fallen warriors whose bodies are not irreparably destroyed.

Why did Śukrācārya revive the demons in Bhagavatam Canto 8 Chapter 11?

Śukrācārya is the preceptor of the asuras; during the Deva–Asura battle he uses his spiritual power to restore their fighting strength by bringing eligible fallen asuras back to life.

What is the practical lesson from Bhagavatam 8.11.47 for modern life?

Power and knowledge can be used to restore and support one’s side, but the Bhagavatam context reminds seekers to align abilities with dharma and devotion rather than mere victory.