Shloka 21

Śālva Attacks Dvārakā; Pradyumna Leads the Defense

Saubha-vimāna and Māyā-yuddha

Devanagari script

बहुरूपैकरूपं तद् द‍ृश्यते न च द‍ृश्यते । मायामयं मयकृतं दुर्विभाव्यं परैरभूत् ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

bahu-rūpaika-rūpaṁ tad dṛśyate na ca dṛśyate māyā-mayaṁ maya-kṛtaṁ durvibhāvyaṁ parair abhūt

Translation

由魔族玛雅丹那瓦所造的幻术飞舟，时而一化为多、诸形相同，时而又复归为一；有时可见，有时不可见。故沙尔瓦的对手始终无法确定它所在之处。

Synonyms

• bahu-rūpa-eka-rūpam: having many forms yet one form
• bahu-rūpa-eka-rūpam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: bahu (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक) + eka (प्रातिपदिक) + rūpa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन); समासः—बहुरूपं च एकरूपं च (विशेषण-विशेष्यभावः)

• tat: that (thing)
• tat: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Prathamā/Dvitīyā (1st/प्रथमा or 2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन); demonstrative pronoun

• dṛśyate: is seen/appears
• dṛśyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्, Present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd/प्रथमपुरुष), Ekavacana (एकवचन); Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद); karmaṇi-prayoga (passive)

• na: not
• na: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: na (अव्यय)
• Form: Niṣedha-avyaya (निषेध-अव्यय, negation particle)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Samuccaya-avyaya (समुच्चय-अव्यय, conjunction)

• dṛśyate: is seen/appears
• dṛśyate: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dṛś (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ (लट्, Present), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd/प्रथमपुरुष), Ekavacana (एकवचन); Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद); karmaṇi-prayoga (passive)

• māyā-mayam: made of illusion
• māyā-mayam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: māyā (प्रातिपदिक) + maya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन); तत्पुरुषः—मायायाः मयम् (made of/consisting of māyā)

• maya-kṛtam: made by me
• maya-kṛtam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: maya (प्रातिपदिक) + kṛta (कृदन्त; √kṛ धातु)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन); भूतकृदन्त (past passive participle) kṛta; तत्पुरुषः—मया कृतम् (done by me)

• durvibhāvyam: hard to comprehend
• durvibhāvyam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: dur (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) + vibhāvya (कृदन्त; √bhū/√bhāv धातु)
• Form: Napumsaka (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Dvitīyā (2nd/द्वितीया), Ekavacana (एकवचन); gerundive/भाव्य (तव्यत्-अर्थे, ‘to be conceived’); दुर्ग्रहणीयम्

• paraiḥ: by others
• paraiḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: para (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Puṁliṅga (पुंलिङ्ग), Tṛtīyā (3rd/तृतीया), Bahuvacana (बहुवचन)

• abhūt: became/was
• abhūt: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Luṅ (लुङ्, Aorist/Imperfect past), Prathama-puruṣa (3rd/प्रथमपुरुष), Ekavacana (एकवचन); Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna’s māyā (divine illusion)?

This verse states that what Kṛṣṇa creates through His māyā can appear in contradictory ways—many yet one, seen yet not seen—and remains beyond ordinary comprehension.

Why does Krishna say it is ‘durvibhāvya’ (hard to understand) for others?

Because the Lord’s māyā is His own potency; those who rely only on material logic or limited perception cannot fully grasp a manifestation produced by the Supreme.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

It encourages humility: not everything is fully knowable by limited senses, so one should seek clarity through devotion, scripture, and steady spiritual practice rather than pride in mere argument.