Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam 8.11.23
नमुचि: पञ्चदशभि: स्वर्णपुङ्खैर्महेषुभि: ।
आहत्य व्यनदत्सङ्ख्ये सतोय इव तोयद: ॥ २३ ॥
namuciḥ pañca-daśabhiḥ
[namuchih pancha-dashabhih]
svarṇa-puṅkhair maheṣubhiḥ
[svarna-punkhair maheshubhih]
āhatya vyanadat saṅkhye
[aahatya vyanadat sankhye]
satoya iva toyadaḥ
[satoya iva toyadah]
Word-for-word
namuciḥ
—
the demon named Namuci
pañca-daśabhiḥ
—
with fifteen
svarṇa-puṅkhaiḥ
—
with golden feathers attached
mahā-iṣubhiḥ
—
very powerful arrows
āhatya
—
piercing
vyanadat
—
resounded
saṅkhye
—
on the battlefield
sa-toyaḥ
—
bearing water
iva
—
like
toya-daḥ
—
a cloud that delivers rain.
Blended reading (Sanskrit + English inline)
namuciḥ pañca-daśabhiḥ
namuciḥ
the demon named Namuci
pañca-daśabhiḥ
with fifteen
svarṇa-puṅkhair maheṣubhiḥ
svarṇa-puṅkhaiḥ
with golden feathers attached
mahā-iṣubhiḥ
very powerful arrows
āhatya vyanadat saṅkhye
āhatya
piercing
vyanadat
resounded
saṅkhye
on the battlefield
satoya iva toyadaḥ
sa-toyaḥ
bearing water
iva
like
toya-daḥ
a cloud that delivers rain.
Then Namuci, another demon, attacked Indra and injured him with fifteen very powerful golden-feathered arrows, which roared like a cloud full of water.
Gauḍīya Ācāryas
Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura
Gauḍīya
Translation
Then Namuci, another demon, attacking Indra with fifteen very powerful golden-feathered arrows just as a cloud pours water, shouted thunderously on the battlefield.
Personal Guidance
Namuci injured Indra with fifteen golden-feathered arrows roaring like raincloud thunder. Bright, decorated weapons still injure. The aesthetic of the arrow does not soften its impact. Beauty in violence remains violence.
Reflection Questions
- What 'golden-feathered' words have wounded me, and was I distracted by their beauty?
- Where am I dressing my own attacks in attractive packaging to make them more palatable?
My note
Source: vedabase.io