Srimad Bhagavatam — Dvadasha Skandha, Shloka 11

Mārkaṇḍeya’s Request to See Māyā and the Vision of the Cosmic Deluge

Devanagari script

तं चण्डशब्दं समुदीरयन्तं बलाहका अन्वभवन् कराला: । अक्षस्थविष्ठा मुमुचुस्तडिद्भ‍ि: स्वनन्त उच्चैरभिवर्षधारा: ॥ ११ ॥

Transliteration

taṁ caṇḍa-śabdaṁ samudīrayantaṁ balāhakā anv abhavan karālāḥ akṣa-sthaviṣṭhā mumucus taḍidbhiḥ svananta uccair abhi varṣa-dhārāḥ

Translation

那阵风发出骇人的轰鸣，随之而来的是狰狞可怖的乌云；伴着闪电与震天雷吼，它们向四方倾泻如车轮般沉重的暴雨洪流。

Synonyms

• tam: him/that (one)
• tam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)

• caṇḍa-śabdam: fierce sound
• caṇḍa-śabdam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: caṇḍa + śabda (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular; कर्मधारयः (caṇḍaḥ śabdaḥ)

• samudīrayantam: raising/uttering
• samudīrayantam: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sam-ud-īr (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (वर्तमान-कृदन्त/शतृ), Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Singular; agreeing with tam

• balāhakāḥ: clouds
• balāhakāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: balāhaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन)

• anu: after, following
• anu: Upasarga (उपसर्ग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anu (अव्यय)
• Form: Preverb/particle (उपसर्ग/अव्यय) used with verb

• abhavan: followed/occurred after
• abhavan: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: bhū (धातु)
• Form: Imperfect (लङ्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन)

• karālāḥ: terrifying, dreadful
• karālāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: karāla (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Plural; qualifying balāhakāḥ

• akṣa-sthaviṣṭhāḥ: thick as axle-shafts
• akṣa-sthaviṣṭhāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: akṣa + sthaviṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st), Plural; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (akṣāṇām sthaviṣṭhāḥ)

• mumucuḥ: released, let loose
• mumucuḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: muc (धातु)
• Form: Perfect (लिट्), Parasmaipada, 3rd person, Plural

• taḍidbhiḥ: with lightning (flashes)
• taḍidbhiḥ: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: taḍit (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Plural

• svanantaḥ: sounding, roaring
• svanantaḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: svan (धातु)
• Form: Present active participle (शतृ), Masculine, Nominative (1st), Plural; qualifying balāhakāḥ

• uccaiḥ: loudly, on high
• uccaiḥ: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: uccaiḥ (अव्यय)
• Form: Adverb (क्रियाविशेषण)

• abhi: towards, upon
• abhi: Upasarga (उपसर्ग)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: abhi (अव्यय/उपसर्ग)
• Form: Preverb/particle (उपसर्ग)

• varṣa-dhārāḥ: streams of rain
• varṣa-dhārāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varṣa + dhārā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Nominative (1st), Plural; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (varṣasya dhārāḥ)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about ominous natural signs in Kali Yuga?

This verse describes terrifying thunder, storm-clouds, lightning, and heavy rain—imagery used in the Bhagavatam to portray unsettling disturbances that accompany periods of decline and disorder.

Why is Śukadeva Gosvāmī describing violent storms in this section of the Bhagavatam?

Śukadeva narrates vivid natural upheavals to set the mood and context of the age’s turbulence, helping Parīkṣit Mahārāja grasp how external nature can mirror social and moral disruption.

Practical application: how should a devotee respond when life feels stormy and unstable?

Like clouds and thunder that come and go, upheavals are temporary; the Bhagavatam’s broader teaching is to steady the mind through śravaṇa and kīrtana—hearing and chanting the Lord’s names—rather than being swept away by fear.