Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 34

Pauṇḍraka’s False Vāsudeva Claim, His Death, and the Burning of Vārāṇasī by Sudarśana

Devanagari script

पद्‍भ्यां तालप्रमाणाभ्यां कम्पयन्नवनीतलम् । सोऽभ्यधावद् वृतो भूतैर्द्वारकां प्रदहन् दिश: ॥ ३४ ॥

Transliteration

padbhyāṁ tāla-pramāṇābhyāṁ kampayann avanī-talam so ’bhyadhāvad vṛto bhūtair dvārakāṁ pradahan diśaḥ

Translation

那怪物双腿高如棕榈树，周围簇拥着鬼魅之众，奔向德瓦拉卡，震动大地，焚烧四方。

Synonyms

• पद्भ्याम्: with (his) feet
• पद्भ्याम्: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), द्विवचन; Instrumental dual (3rd case)

• ताल-प्रमाणाभ्याम्: with measures of a palm (i.e., huge steps)
• ताल-प्रमाणाभ्याम्: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ताल + प्रमाण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), द्विवचन; Instrumental dual; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (तालस्य प्रमाणम्)

• कम्पयन्: shaking
• कम्पयन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कम्प् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ), परस्मैपदी; प्रथमा-एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग; Present active participle (shatṛ) nominative singular masculine

• अवनी-तलम्: the surface of the earth
• अवनी-तलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अवनी + तल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; Accusative singular; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (अवनेः तलम्)

• सः: he
• सः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; Pronoun nominative singular masculine

• अभ्यधावत्: ran toward / rushed
• अभ्यधावत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धाव् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (अनद्यतन-भूत), परस्मैपदी; प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; Imperfect, 3rd person singular

• वृतः: surrounded
• वृतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वृ (धातु)
• Form: भूतकृदन्त (क्त), प्रथमा-एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग; Past passive participle nominative singular masculine

• भूतैः: by beings/spirits
• भूतैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भूत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (करण), बहुवचन; Instrumental plural

• द्वारकाम्: Dvaraka
• द्वारकाम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: द्वारका (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; Accusative singular

• प्रदहन्: burning
• प्रदहन्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दह् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ) उपसर्ग-प्र; प्रथमा-एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग; Present active participle nominative singular masculine

• दिशः: the directions
• दिशः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), बहुवचन; Accusative plural

Characters & Entities

• Dvārakā
• Bhūtas

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about attacks on Dvārakā?

This verse depicts a terrifying aggressor charging toward Dvārakā with immense force, emphasizing how threats may arise against the Lord’s city—setting the stage for Kṛṣṇa’s protection and the defeat of the arrogant.

Who is speaking this verse in Bhagavatam 10.66.34?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī narrates this verse to Mahārāja Parīkṣit as part of the account in Canto 10, Chapter 66.

Practical application: what can devotees learn from this verse?

Even when danger appears overwhelming and “burns the directions,” a devotee remembers that the Lord ultimately protects His devotees and His dharma—encouraging steadiness, prayer, and faith rather than panic.