SB 10.55.18 — FolioCorpus

Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 10.55.18

सोऽधिक्षिप्तो दुर्वाचोभि: पदाहत इवोरग: । निश्चक्राम गदापाणिरमर्षात्ताम्रलोचन: ॥ १८ ॥

so ’dhikṣipto durvācobhiḥ

[so ’dhikshipto durvaachobhih]

padāhata ivoragaḥ

[padaahata ivoragah]

niścakrāma gadā-pāṇir

[nishchakraama gadaa-paanir]

amarṣāt tāmra-locanaḥ

[amarshaat taamra-lochanah]

Word-for-word

saḥ — he, Śambara adhikṣiptaḥ — insulted durvācobhiḥ — by harsh words padā — by a foot āhataḥ — struck iva — like uragaḥ — a snake niścakrāma — came out gadā — a club pāṇiḥ — in his hand amarṣāt — out of intolerant anger tāmra — copper-red locanaḥ — whose eyes .

Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)

so ’dhikṣipto durvācobhiḥ

padāhata ivoragaḥ

niścakrāma gadā-pāṇir

amarṣāt tāmra-locanaḥ

saḥ

he, Śambara

adhikṣiptaḥ

insulted

durvācobhiḥ

by harsh words

padā

by a foot

āhataḥ

struck

iva

uragaḥ

a snake

niścakrāma

came out

gadā

a club

pāṇiḥ

in his hand

amarṣāt

out of intolerant anger

tāmra

copper-red

locanaḥ

whose eyes .

Important Words

padā — a snake struck by the foot
Compound: padā (by foot) + āhataḥ (struck) + uragaḥ (snake). A stock Bhāgavata simile for sudden, unthinking rage. Snakes don't strategize; they strike. The Bhāgavatam diagnoses asura-psychology — wounded pride flares before reason can intervene.
gadā-pāṇiḥ — club in hand
Compound: gadā (mace, club) + pāṇiḥ (hand). The asura's chosen weapon — heavy, blunt, requiring brute force. Contrast Pradyumna's eventual use of asi (sharp sword, v.24) — discernment versus blunt force.
amarṣāt — out of intolerant anger
Ablative of amarṣa — anger arising from inability to bear an offense. Distinct from krodha (general anger); amarṣa is specifically pride-injured rage. Diagnostic vocabulary.
tāmra-locanaḥ — whose eyes were copper-red
Compound: tāmra (copper-colored) + locanaḥ (eyed). The body reads out the rage. Gauḍīyas note the contrast with Kṛṣṇa's reddish eyes (rakta-locana) when He is moved by love (v.27-28) — same color, opposite ground.

Offended by these harsh words, Śambara became as agitated as a kicked snake. He came out, club in hand, his eyes red with rage.

Gauḍīya Ācāryas

Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura Gauḍīya

Translation

Offended by these harsh words, Śambara became as agitated as a kicked snake. He came out, club in hand, his eyes red with rage.

Jīva Gosvāmī Gauḍīya

Commentary

Another version has so’ bhikṣiptaḥ.

Śrīdhara Svāmī Gauḍīya

Commentary

He became like a kicked snake. Because of anger his eyes were red. Or angry like a kicked snake raising its hood, with red eyes emerging from its hole, he came out of his house.

Related values & verses

Related values

Bhakti (Devotion)Tejas (Inner Radiance / Vigour)Daksya (Resourcefulness / Skill)

Concepts

Jiva

Personal Guidance

Offended, Śambara becomes agitated as a kicked snake, comes out with club, eyes red with rage. Insults precisely calibrated bring out what hiding would have concealed.

Reflection Questions

What in your inner life would 'come out with club' if appropriately provoked?
Where does avoidance of provocation maintain a worse status quo?

Analogy

Stung by insults, Śambara emerges 'like a kicked snake' — copper-eyed, club in hand. The asura's wrath is reflexive, not strategic; the moment ego is touched, the body comes out. Bhagavān's son knew exactly which line to speak to elicit this response.

📝 My note

Source: vedabase.io