Shloka 33

Paugaṇḍa Cowherding, Tālavana, the Slaying of Dhenukāsura, and Revival from Poisoned Yamunā Water

Devanagari script

तेनाहतो महातालो वेपमानो बृहच्छिरा: । पार्श्वस्थं कम्पयन् भग्न: स चान्यं सोऽपि चापरम् ॥ ३३ ॥

Transliteration

tenāhato mahā-tālo vepamāno bṛhac-chirāḥ pārśva-sthaṁ kampayan bhagnaḥ sa cānyaṁ so ’pi cāparam

Translation

他落在树冠之上，林中最高的棕榈树随即剧烈摇晃，连同沉重的树冠一并折断；它的震动又带动旁树摇晃折裂，继而撞及另一株——于是林中许多树木相继震颤、断裂。

Synonyms

• तेन: by him
• तेन: करण (Karana/Instrument/Agent in passive sense)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंस, तृतीया-विभक्ति (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन — by him/thereby

• आहतः: struck
• आहतः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Predicate adjective to mahā-tālaḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आ-हन् (धातु) → आहत (क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (past passive participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन — struck

• महातालः: the great palm tree
• महातालः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महा (प्रातिपदिक) + ताल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय-समास (महान् तालः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन — the great palm tree

• वेपमानः: trembling
• वेपमानः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Qualifies mahā-tālaḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वेप् (धातु) → वेपमान (शानच्-कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त (ātmanepada present participle); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन — trembling

• बृहत्-शिराः: with a huge crown/top
• बृहत्-शिराः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Qualifies mahā-tālaḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बृहत् (प्रातिपदिक) + शिरस्/शिरा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि-समास (बृहच्छिराः = बृहच्छिरः यस्य सः); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन — having a huge top/head

• पार्श्व-स्थम्: the adjacent (trees)
• पार्श्व-स्थम्: कर्म (Karma/Object of kampayan)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पार्श्व (प्रातिपदिक) + स्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (पार्श्वे स्थितम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — what is standing nearby/adjacent (neighboring trees)

• कम्पयन्: shaking
• कम्पयन्: कर्ता-विशेषण (Qualifies mahā-tālaḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कम्प् (धातु) → कम्पयत् (शतृ-कृदन्त; णिच् causative sense)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन — shaking (causing to shake)

• भग्नः: broken
• भग्नः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Qualifies mahā-tālaḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भञ्ज् (धातु) → भग्न (क्त-प्रत्यय)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन — broken

• सः: it
• सः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; resumptive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन — it/he (that tree)

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction) — and

• अन्यम्: another
• अन्यम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; implied ‘struck/felled’)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — another (tree)

• सः: that one
• सः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject; implied)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन — that (other one)

• अपि: also
• अपि: निपात (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (particle) — also/even

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Conjunction)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (conjunction) — and

• अपरम्: yet another
• अपरम्: कर्म (Karma/Object; implied)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अपर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन — another/further (tree)

Purport

Lord Balarāma threw the demon Dhenuka so violently into the great palm tree that a chain reaction was unleashed, and many towering palm trees shook and then broke with a great crashing sound.

Characters & Entities

• Balarāma

FAQs

What happens in Tālavana (the palm forest) in Srimad Bhagavatam 10.15?

In Tālavana, Balarāma powerfully strikes the tāla trees; they tremble and topple in a chain reaction, setting the stage for the confrontation with the ass-demon Dhenukāsura and his followers.

Why are the tāla trees described as shaking and breaking in this verse?

The verse highlights Balarāma’s extraordinary divine strength: one struck tree collapses and knocks down others, vividly portraying the Lord’s effortless control over nature during His Vṛndāvana pastimes.

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

Small actions can create cascading effects—so align your “first strike” with dharma and devotion; similarly, sincere spiritual practice can quickly transform many connected areas of life.