Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 16

Balarāma Slays the Ape Dvivida

Dvivida-vadha

Devanagari script

तं तस्याविनयं द‍ृष्ट्वा देशांश्च तदुपद्रुतान् । क्रुद्धो मुषलमादत्त हलं चारिजिघांसया ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

taṁ tasyāvinayaṁ dṛṣṭvā deśāṁś ca tad-upadrutān kruddho muṣalam ādatta halaṁ cāri-jighāṁsayā

Translation

主巴拉罗摩见那猿猴无礼，又念及其在周边诸国所致扰乱，遂大怒；决意诛敌，执起木杵之棒（muṣala）与犁形神兵（hala）。

Synonyms

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• अविनयम्: misconduct, insolence
• अविनयम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अविनय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• दृष्ट्वा: having seen
• दृष्ट्वा: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), ‘having seen’

• देशान्: regions
• देशान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• तत्-उपद्रुतान्: those afflicted by him
• तत्-उपद्रुतान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक) + उपद्रुत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; उप+द्रु/द्रव्)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), बहुवचन; विशेषण (देशानाम्)

• क्रुद्धः: angered
• क्रुद्धः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रुद्ध (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; क्रुध् धातोः क्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (past participle used adjectivally); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• मुषलम्: club
• मुषलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुषल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• आदत्त: took up
• आदत्त: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ+दा (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect, past), प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• हलम्: plough
• हलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Samuccaya (समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• अरि-जिघांसया: with the desire to kill the enemy
• अरि-जिघांसया: Hetu (हेतु/निमित्त)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अरि (प्रातिपदिक) + जिघांस (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; हन् धातोः सन्/इच्छार्थ)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), एकवचन; ‘इच्छा/कामना’ अर्थे

Purport

The word avinayam means “without humility.” Dvivida, completely lacking in modesty and humility, shamelessly performed the most wicked activities. Lord Balarāma knew of the great disturbances Dvivida had caused to people in general, apart from the vulgar behavior the ape was exhibiting in the Lord’s own presence. The offensive ape would now have to die.

Characters & Entities

• Balarāma
• Dvivida

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about how the Lord responds to demonic disturbance?

This verse shows that when a violent offender devastates the land and violates dharma, Lord Balarāma becomes determined to stop him, taking up His divine weapons to protect the world.

Why did Balarama pick up the club and plow in Canto 10 Chapter 67?

Because Dvivida’s shameless aggression had harmed many places; seeing this, Balarāma resolved to kill the enemy and therefore took up His musala (club) and hala (plow).

Practical application of stopping wrongdoing in modern life according to this shloka?

Do not normalize harmful behavior; when others are being harmed, respond firmly and responsibly—using appropriate means—to protect people and uphold righteousness.