Srimad Bhagavatam — Shashtha Skandha, Shloka 34

Vṛtrāsura Instructs Indra on Providence and Devotion; The Slaying of Vṛtrāsura

Devanagari script

तदा च खे दुन्दुभयो विनेदु- र्गन्धर्वसिद्धा: समहर्षिसङ्घा: । वार्त्रघ्नलिङ्गैस्तमभिष्टुवाना मन्त्रैर्मुदा कुसुमैरभ्यवर्षन् ॥ ३४ ॥

Transliteration

tadā ca khe dundubhayo vinedur gandharva-siddhāḥ samaharṣi-saṅghāḥ vārtra-ghna-liṅgais tam abhiṣṭuvānā mantrair mudā kusumair abhyavarṣan

Translation

当弗栗多被杀时，天界的乾闼婆和悉达们欢欣鼓舞地敲起了战鼓。他们用吠陀赞歌以此赞美因陀罗，并高兴地向他撒下鲜花。

Synonyms

• तदा: then
• तदा: कालाधिकरण (Temporal adverb)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तदा (अव्यय)
• Form: कालवाचक-अव्यय (temporal adverb: then)

• च: and
• च: सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (conjunction: and)

• खे: in the sky
• खे: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• दुन्दुभयः: kettledrums/drums
• दुन्दुभयः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुन्दुभि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• विनेदुः: resounded
• विनेदुः: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + नद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्/परिपूर्ण-भूत (Perfect) वा लङ्-प्रयोगसदृश; परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन (they resounded)

• गन्धर्व-सिद्धाः: Gandharvas and Siddhas
• गन्धर्व-सिद्धाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गन्धर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + सिद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (Gandharvas and Siddhas)

• समहर्षि-सङ्घाः: companies of great sages
• समहर्षि-सङ्घाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महर्षि (प्रातिपदिक) + सङ्घ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; उपसर्ग ‘सम्’ सहित; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (assemblies of great sages)

• वार्त्र-घ्न-लिङ्गैः: with the emblems of Vṛtra’s slayer
• वार्त्र-घ्न-लिङ्गैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वार्त्र (प्रातिपदिक) + घ्न (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक) + लिङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; तत्पुरुष (signs/marks of the slayer of Vṛtra)

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

• अभिष्टुवानाः: praising
• अभिष्टुवानाः: कर्ता (Agent participle of gandharva-siddhāḥ etc.)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + स्तु (धातु)
• Form: भूतपूर्व-कृदन्त (क्तवतु/Perfect active participle sense), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (having praised)

• मन्त्रैः: with hymns/mantras
• मन्त्रैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मन्त्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• मुदा: with joy
• मुदा: करण (Instrument of manner)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुद्/मुदा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (instrumental of manner)

• कुसुमैः: with flowers
• कुसुमैः: करण (Karaṇa/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुसुम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• अभ्यवर्षन्: showered (down)
• अभ्यवर्षन्: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि + वृष् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन

Characters & Entities

• Indra
• Vṛtrāsura
• Gandharvas
• Siddhas
• Mahārṣis

FAQs

What is the meaning of the celestial drums and flower shower in Srimad Bhagavatam?

They signify divine approval and celebration in the heavenly realms—beings like Gandharvas, Siddhas, and sages acknowledge the event as auspicious and worthy of praise.

Why is Indra praised as ‘Vṛtra-slayer’ (vārtraghna) in this verse?

Because after the climactic battle described in this chapter, Indra is recognized by the title ‘slayer of Vṛtra,’ and the heavenly beings glorify him with hymns bearing that designation.

How can a devotee apply this verse in modern life?

It highlights that righteous, divinely aligned duty is honored—one should perform one’s responsibility with integrity, and leave recognition to higher judgment rather than personal pride.