Before Verses
Devanagari
Verse Text
Synonyms
Translation
Purport
CHAPTER FORTY-THREE
Kṛṣṇa Kills the Elephant Kuvalayāpīḍa
This chapter tells how Lord Kṛṣṇa killed the lordly elephant Kuvalayāpīḍa, how Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma entered the wrestling arena and what Kṛṣṇa said to the wrestler Cāṇūra.
After finishing Their early-morning rituals, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma heard kettledrums heralding the start of the wrestling match, and They went to see the festivities. At the gate of the wrestling arena They encountered an elephant named Kuvalayāpīḍa, who attacked Kṛṣṇa at the urging of his keeper. The mighty elephant grabbed at Kṛṣṇa with his trunk, but the Lord struck back and then disappeared from the beast’s sight among his legs. Enraged at not being able to see Kṛṣṇa, Kuvalayāpīḍa sought Him out with his sense of smell and seized Him. But the Lord pulled loose. In this way Kṛṣṇa teased and tormented Kuvalayāpīḍa, finally yanking out one of his tusks and beating him and his keepers to death.
Sprinkled with the elephant’s blood and carrying one of his tusks on His shoulder as a weapon, Lord Kṛṣṇa appeared unprecedentedly beautiful as He entered the wrestling arena. There the various classes of people saw Him in different ways, according to their specific relationship with Him.
When King Kaṁsa heard how Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma had killed Kuvalayāpīḍa, he realized They were invincible and became filled with anxiety. The members of the audience, on the other hand, became joyful as they reminded one another about the Lords’ amazing pastimes. The people declared that Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma must be two expansions of the Supreme Lord Nārāyaṇa who had descended into the house of Vasudeva.
Cāṇūra then stepped forward and challenged Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma to wrestle, saying King Kaṁsa wished to see such a match. Kṛṣṇa replied, “Although We are merely nomadic forest folk, We are nonetheless subjects of the King; thus We will not hesitate to please him with an exhibition of wrestling.” As soon as Cāṇūra heard this, he suggested that Kṛṣṇa should wrestle him and that Balarāma should wrestle Muṣṭika.
Devanagari
श्रीशुक उवाच
अथ कृष्णश्च रामश्च कृतशौचौ परन्तप । मल्लदुन्दुभिनिर्घोषं श्रुत्वा द्रष्टुमुपेयतु: ॥ १ ॥
अथ कृष्णश्च रामश्च कृतशौचौ परन्तप । मल्लदुन्दुभिनिर्घोषं श्रुत्वा द्रष्टुमुपेयतु: ॥ १ ॥
Verse text
śrī-śuka uvāca
atha kṛṣṇaś ca rāmaś ca
kṛta-śaucau parantapa
malla-dundubhi-nirghoṣaṁ
śrutvā draṣṭum upeyatuḥ
atha kṛṣṇaś ca rāmaś ca
kṛta-śaucau parantapa
malla-dundubhi-nirghoṣaṁ
śrutvā draṣṭum upeyatuḥ
Synonyms
śrī-śukaḥ uvāca — Śrī Śukadeva Gosvāmī said; atha — next; kṛṣṇaḥ — Kṛṣṇa; ca — and; rāmaḥ — Balarāma; ca — also; kṛta — having carried out; śaucau — purification; param-tapa — O chastiser of enemies; malla — of the wrestling match; dundubhi — of the kettledrums; nirghoṣam — the resounding vibration; śrutvā — hearing; draṣṭum — to see; upeyataḥ — They approached.
Translation
Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: O chastiser of enemies, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, having executed all necessary purification, then heard the kettledrums resounding at the wrestling arena, and They went there to see what was happening.
Purport
Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī explains the words kṛta-śaucau, “having executed all necessary purification,” as follows: “Two days previously, Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma had executed Their purification, Their relief from offense [by performing heroic deeds]. The Lords reasoned: ‘Even after We have made Our power known by breaking the bow and by performing other feats, Our parents have still not secured freedom. Kaṁsa is again trying to kill them. Therefore, although he is Our maternal uncle, it will not be wrong for Us to kill him.’ They assured Their offenselessness by this reasoning.”
Devanagari
रङ्गद्वारं समासाद्य तस्मिन् नागमवस्थितम् । अपश्यत्कुवलयापीडं कृष्णोऽम्बष्ठप्रचोदितम् ॥ २ ॥
Verse text
raṅga-dvāraṁ samāsādya
tasmin nāgam avasthitam
apaśyat kuvalayāpīḍaṁ
kṛṣṇo ’mbaṣṭha-pracoditam
tasmin nāgam avasthitam
apaśyat kuvalayāpīḍaṁ
kṛṣṇo ’mbaṣṭha-pracoditam
Synonyms
raṅga — of the arena; dvāram — the gate; samāsādya — reaching; tasmin — in that place; nāgam — an elephant; avasthitam — standing; apaśyat — He saw; kuvalayāpīḍam — named Kuvalayāpīḍa; kṛṣṇaḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa; ambaṣṭha — by his keeper; pracoditam — urged on.
Translation
When Lord Kṛṣṇa reached the entrance to the arena, He saw the elephant Kuvalayāpīḍa blocking His way at the urging of his keeper.
Purport
The elephant-keeper revealed his malicious intent by blocking Lord Kṛṣṇa’s entrance into the arena.
Devanagari
बद्ध्वा परिकरं शौरि: समुह्य कुटिलालकान् । उवाच हस्तिपं वाचा मेघनादगभीरया ॥ ३ ॥
Verse text
baddhvā parikaraṁ śauriḥ
samuhya kuṭilālakān
uvāca hastipaṁ vācā
megha-nāda-gabhīrayā
samuhya kuṭilālakān
uvāca hastipaṁ vācā
megha-nāda-gabhīrayā
Synonyms
Translation
Securely binding up His clothes and tying back His curly locks, Lord Kṛṣṇa addressed the elephant-keeper with words as grave as the rumbling of a cloud.
Purport
Lord Kṛṣṇa was obviously preparing for a fight. According to Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī Ṭhākura, the Lord put aside His jacket, tightened His belt and tied back His hair.
Devanagari
अम्बष्ठाम्बष्ठ मार्गं नौ देह्यपक्रम मा चिरम् । नो चेत् सकुञ्जरं त्वाद्य नयामि यमसादनम् ॥ ४ ॥
Verse text
ambaṣṭhāmbaṣṭha mārgaṁ nau
dehy apakrama mā ciram
no cet sa-kuñjaraṁ tvādya
nayāmi yama-sādanam
dehy apakrama mā ciram
no cet sa-kuñjaraṁ tvādya
nayāmi yama-sādanam
Synonyms
ambaṣṭha ambaṣṭha — O elephant-keeper, elephant-keeper; mārgam — way; nau — to Us; dehi — give; apakrama — move aside; ma ciram — without delay; na u cet — if not; sa-kuñjaram — together with your elephant; tva — you; adya — today; nayāmi — I will send; yama — of the lord of death; sādanam — to the abode.
Translation
[Lord Kṛṣṇa said:] O driver, driver, move aside at once and let Us pass! If you don’t, this very day I will send both you and your elephant to the abode of Yamarāja!
Devanagari
एवं निर्भर्त्सितोऽम्बष्ठ: कुपित: कोपितं गजम् । चोदयामास कृष्णाय कालान्तकयमोपमम् ॥ ५ ॥
Verse text
evaṁ nirbhartsito ’mbaṣṭhaḥ
kupitaḥ kopitaṁ gajam
codayām āsa kṛṣṇāya
kālāntaka-yamopamam
kupitaḥ kopitaṁ gajam
codayām āsa kṛṣṇāya
kālāntaka-yamopamam
Synonyms
Translation
Thus threatened, the elephant-keeper became angry. He goaded his furious elephant, who appeared equal to time, death and Yamarāja, into attacking Lord Kṛṣṇa.
Devanagari
करीन्द्रस्तमभिद्रुत्य करेण तरसाग्रहीत् । कराद्विगलित: सोऽमुं निहत्याङ्घ्रिष्वलीयत ॥ ६ ॥
Verse text
karīndras tam abhidrutya
kareṇa tarasāgrahīt
karād vigalitaḥ so ’muṁ
nihatyāṅghriṣv alīyata
kareṇa tarasāgrahīt
karād vigalitaḥ so ’muṁ
nihatyāṅghriṣv alīyata
Synonyms
kari — of elephants; indraḥ — the lord; tam — Him; abhidrutya — running toward; kareṇa — with his trunk; tarasā — violently; agrahīt — seized; karāt — from the trunk; vigalitaḥ — slipping away; saḥ — He, Kṛṣṇa; amum — him, Kuvalayāpīḍa; nihatya — striking; aṅghriṣu — among his legs; alīyata — He disappeared.
Translation
The lord of the elephants charged Kṛṣṇa and violently seized Him with his trunk. But Kṛṣṇa slipped away, struck him a blow and disappeared from his view among his legs.
Purport
Lord Kṛṣṇa struck the elephant with His fist and then disappeared among his legs.
Devanagari
सङ्क्रुद्धस्तमचक्षाणो घ्राणदृष्टि: स केशवम् । परामृशत् पुष्करेण स प्रसह्य विनिर्गत: ॥ ७ ॥
Verse text
saṅkruddhas tam acakṣāṇo
ghrāṇa-dṛṣṭiḥ sa keśavam
parāmṛśat puṣkareṇa
sa prasahya vinirgataḥ
ghrāṇa-dṛṣṭiḥ sa keśavam
parāmṛśat puṣkareṇa
sa prasahya vinirgataḥ
Synonyms
Translation
Infuriated at being unable to see Lord Keśava, the elephant sought Him out with his sense of smell. Once again Kuvalayāpīḍa seized the Lord with the end of his trunk, only to have the Lord forcefully free Himself.
Purport
Lord Kṛṣṇa allowed the elephant to seize Him so that the beast would be encouraged to keep fighting. Once Kuvalayāpīḍa had thus become proud, Lord Kṛṣṇa again thwarted him with His superior potency.
Devanagari
पुच्छे प्रगृह्यातिबलं धनुष: पञ्चविंशतिम् । विचकर्ष यथा नागं सुपर्ण इव लीलया ॥ ८ ॥
Verse text
pucche pragṛhyāti-balaṁ
dhanuṣaḥ pañca-viṁśatim
vicakarṣa yathā nāgaṁ
suparṇa iva līlayā
dhanuṣaḥ pañca-viṁśatim
vicakarṣa yathā nāgaṁ
suparṇa iva līlayā
Synonyms
Translation
Lord Kṛṣṇa then grabbed the powerful Kuvalayāpīḍa by the tail and playfully dragged him twenty-five bow-lengths as easily as Garuḍa might drag a snake.
Devanagari
स पर्यावर्तमानेन सव्यदक्षिणतोऽच्युत: । बभ्राम भ्राम्यमाणेन गोवत्सेनेव बालक: ॥ ९ ॥
Verse text
sa paryāvartamānena
savya-dakṣiṇato ’cyutaḥ
babhrāma bhrāmyamāṇena
go-vatseneva bālakaḥ
savya-dakṣiṇato ’cyutaḥ
babhrāma bhrāmyamāṇena
go-vatseneva bālakaḥ
Synonyms
saḥ — He; paryāvartamānena — with him (the elephant) who was being moved around; savya-dakṣiṇataḥ — to the left and then the right; acyutaḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa; babhrāma — moved also; bhrāmyamāṇena — together with him who was being moved; go-vatsena — with a calf; iva — just as; bālakaḥ — a young boy.
Translation
As Lord Acyuta held on to the elephant’s tail, the animal tried to twist away to the left and to the right, making the Lord swerve in the opposite direction, as a young boy would swerve when pulling a calf by the tail.
Devanagari
ततोऽभिमुखमभ्येत्य पाणिनाहत्य वारणम् । प्राद्रवन् पातयामास स्पृश्यमान: पदे पदे ॥ १० ॥
Verse text
tato ’bhimakham abhyetya
pāṇināhatya vāraṇam
prādravan pātayām āsa
spṛśyamānaḥ pade pade
pāṇināhatya vāraṇam
prādravan pātayām āsa
spṛśyamānaḥ pade pade
Synonyms
Translation
Kṛṣṇa then came face to face with the elephant and slapped him and ran away. Kuvalayāpīḍa pursued the Lord, managing to touch Him again and again with each step, but Kṛṣṇa outmaneuvered the elephant and made him trip and fall.
Devanagari
स धावन् क्रीडया भूमौ पतित्वा सहसोत्थित: । तं मत्वा पतितं क्रुद्धो दन्ताभ्यां सोऽहनत्क्षितिम् ॥ ११ ॥
Verse text
sa dhāvan kṛīdayā bhūmau
patitvā sahasotthitaḥ
tam matvā patitaṁ kruddho
dantābhyāṁ so ’hanat kṣitim
patitvā sahasotthitaḥ
tam matvā patitaṁ kruddho
dantābhyāṁ so ’hanat kṣitim
Synonyms
Translation
As Kṛṣṇa dodged about, He playfully fell on the ground and quickly got up again. The raging elephant, thinking Kṛṣṇa was down, tried to gore Him with his tusks but struck the earth instead.
Devanagari
स्वविक्रमे प्रतिहते कुञ्जरेन्द्रोऽत्यमर्षित: । चोद्यमानो महामात्रै: कृष्णमभ्यद्रवद् रुषा ॥ १२ ॥
Verse text
sva-vikrame pratihate
kuñjarendro ’ty-amarṣitaḥ
codyamāno mahāmātraiḥ
kṛṣṇam abhyadravad ruṣā
kuñjarendro ’ty-amarṣitaḥ
codyamāno mahāmātraiḥ
kṛṣṇam abhyadravad ruṣā
Synonyms
sva — his; vikrame — prowess; pratihate — being thwarted; kuñjara-indraḥ — the lord of elephants; ati — extreme; amarṣitaḥ — with frustrated anger; codyamānaḥ — urged on; mahāmātraiḥ — by the elephant-keepers; kṛṣṇam — at Kṛṣṇa; abhyadravat — he charged; ruṣā — furiously.
Translation
His prowess foiled, the lordly elephant Kuvalayāpīḍa went into a frenzied rage out of frustration. But the elephant-keepers goaded him on, and he furiously charged Kṛṣṇa once again.
Devanagari
तमापतन्तमासाद्य भगवान् मधुसूदन: । निगृह्य पाणिना हस्तं पातयामास भूतले ॥ १३ ॥
Verse text
tam āpatantam āsādya
bhagavān madhusūdanaḥ
nigṛhya pāṇinā hastaṁ
pātayām āsa bhū-tale
bhagavān madhusūdanaḥ
nigṛhya pāṇinā hastaṁ
pātayām āsa bhū-tale
Synonyms
Translation
The Supreme Lord, killer of the demon Madhu, confronted the elephant as he attacked. Seizing his trunk with one hand, Kṛṣṇa threw him to the ground.
Devanagari
पतितस्य पदाक्रम्य मृगेन्द्र इव लीलया । दन्तमुत्पाट्य तेनेभं हस्तिपांश्चाहनद्धरि: ॥ १४ ॥
Verse text
patitasya padākramya
mṛgendra iva līlayā
dantam utpāṭya tenebhaṁ
hastipāṁś cāhanad dhariḥ
mṛgendra iva līlayā
dantam utpāṭya tenebhaṁ
hastipāṁś cāhanad dhariḥ
Synonyms
patitasya — of the fallen (elephant); padā — with His foot; ākramya — climbing upon him; mṛgendraḥ — a lion; iva — as if; līlayā — with ease; dantam — one of his tusks; utpāṭya — pulling out; tena — with it; ibham — the elephant; hasti-pān — the elephant-keepers; ca — also; ahanat — killed; hariḥ — Lord Kṛṣṇa.
Translation
Lord Hari then climbed onto the elephant with the ease of a mighty lion, pulled out a tusk, and with it killed the beast and his keepers.
Devanagari
मृतकं द्विपमुत्सृज्य दन्तपाणि: समाविशत् । अंसन्यस्तविषाणोऽसृङ्मदबिन्दुभिरङ्कित: । विरूढस्वेदकणिकावदनाम्बुरुहो बभौ ॥ १५ ॥
Verse text
mṛtakaṁ dvipam utsṛjya
danta-pāṇiḥ samāviśat
aṁsa-nyasta-viṣāṇo ’sṛṅ-
mada-bindubhir aṅkitaḥ
virūḍha-sveda-kaṇikā
vadanāmburuho babhau
danta-pāṇiḥ samāviśat
aṁsa-nyasta-viṣāṇo ’sṛṅ-
mada-bindubhir aṅkitaḥ
virūḍha-sveda-kaṇikā
vadanāmburuho babhau
Synonyms
mṛtakam — dead; dvipam — the elephant; utsṛjya — discarding; danta — his tusk; pāṇiḥ — in His hand; samāviśat — He entered (the arena); aṁsa — upon His shoulder; nyasta — placing; viṣāṇaḥ — the tusk; asṛk — of blood; mada — and the elephant’s sweat; bindubhiḥ — with drops; aṅkitaḥ — sprinkled; virūḍha — exuding; sveda — of (His own) perspiration; kaṇikā — with fine drops; vadana — His face; ambu-ruhaḥ — lotuslike; babhau — shone.
Translation
Leaving the dead elephant aside, Lord Kṛṣṇa held on to the tusk and entered the wrestling arena. With the tusk resting on His shoulder, drops of the elephant’s blood and sweat sprinkled all over Him, and His lotus face covered with fine drops of His own perspiration, the Lord shone with great beauty.
Devanagari
वृतौ गोपै: कतिपयैर्बलदेवजनार्दनौ । रङ्गं विविशतू राजन् गजदन्तवरायुधौ ॥ १६ ॥
Verse text
vṛtau gopaiḥ katipayair
baladeva-janārdanau
raṅgaṁ viviśatū rājan
gaja-danta-varāyudhau
baladeva-janārdanau
raṅgaṁ viviśatū rājan
gaja-danta-varāyudhau
Synonyms
Translation
My dear King, Lord Baladeva and Lord Janārdana, each carrying one of the elephant’s tusks as His chosen weapon, entered the arena with several cowherd boys.
Devanagari
मल्लानामशनिर्नृणां नरवर: स्त्रीणां स्मरो मूर्तिमान्गोपानां स्वजनोऽसतां क्षितिभुजां शास्ता स्वपित्रो: शिशु: । मृत्युर्भोजपतेर्विराडविदुषां तत्त्वं परं योगिनांवृष्णीनां परदेवतेति विदितो रङ्गं गत: साग्रज: ॥ १७ ॥
Verse text
mallānām aśanir nṛṇāṁ nara-varaḥ strīṇāṁ smaro mūrtimān
gopānāṁ sva-jano ’satāṁ kṣiti-bhujāṁ śāstā sva-pitroḥ śiśuḥ
mṛtyur bhoja-pater virāḍ aviduṣāṁ tattvaṁ paraṁ yogināṁ
vṛṣṇīnāṁ para-devateti vidito raṅgaṁ gataḥ sāgrajaḥ
gopānāṁ sva-jano ’satāṁ kṣiti-bhujāṁ śāstā sva-pitroḥ śiśuḥ
mṛtyur bhoja-pater virāḍ aviduṣāṁ tattvaṁ paraṁ yogināṁ
vṛṣṇīnāṁ para-devateti vidito raṅgaṁ gataḥ sāgrajaḥ
Synonyms
mallānām — for the wrestlers; aśaniḥ — lightning; nṛṇām — for the males; nara-varaḥ — the best of men; strīṇām — for the women; smaraḥ — Cupid; mūrti-mān — incarnate; gopānām — for the cowherds; sva-janaḥ — their relative; asatām — impious; kṣiti-bhujām — for the kings; śāstā — a punisher; sva-pitroḥ — for His parents; śiśuḥ — a child; mṛtyuḥ — death; bhoja-pateḥ — for the King of the Bhojas, Kaṁsa; virāṭ — the totality of the material universe; aviduṣām — for the unintelligent; tattvam — the Truth; param — Supreme; yoginām — for the yogīs; vṛṣṇīnām — for the members of the Vṛṣṇi dynasty; para-devatā — their most worshipable Deity; iti — in these ways; viditaḥ — understood; raṅgam — the arena; gataḥ — He entered; sa — along with; agra-jaḥ — His elder brother.
Translation
The various groups of people in the arena regarded Kṛṣṇa in different ways when He entered it with His elder brother. The wrestlers saw Kṛṣṇa as a lightning bolt, the men of Mathurā as the best of males, the women as Cupid in person, the cowherd men as their relative, the impious rulers as a chastiser, His parents as their child, the King of the Bhojas as death, the unintelligent as the Supreme Lord’s universal form, the yogīs as the Absolute Truth and the Vṛṣṇis as their supreme worshipable Deity.
Purport
Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī quotes the following verse, which explains the ten attitudes toward Kṛṣṇa described here:
raudro ’dbhutaś ca śṛṅgāro
hāsyaṁ vīro dayā tathā
bhayānakaś ca bībhatsaḥ
śāntaḥ sa-prema-bhaktikaḥ
hāsyaṁ vīro dayā tathā
bhayānakaś ca bībhatsaḥ
śāntaḥ sa-prema-bhaktikaḥ
“[There are ten different moods:] fury [perceived by the wrestlers], wonder [by the men], conjugal attraction [the women], laughter [the cowherds], chivalry [the kings], mercy [His parents], terror [Kaṁsa], ghastliness [the unintelligent], peaceful neutrality [the yogīs] and loving devotion [the Vṛṣṇis].”
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī points out that people like the wrestlers, Kaṁsa and the impious rulers perceive Kṛṣṇa as dangerous, angry or threatening because they fail to understand the actual position of the Personality of Godhead. Actually, Lord Kṛṣṇa is everyone’s friend and well-wisher, but because we rebel against Him, He chastises us, and thus we may perceive Him as threatening. Kṛṣṇa, or God, is actually merciful, and when He punishes us, that is also His mercy.
Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī Ṭhākura quotes the following Vedic statement: raso vai saḥ rasaṁ hy evāyaṁ labdhvānandī bhavati. “He Himself is rasa, the taste or mellow of a particular relationship. And certainly one who achieves this rasa becomes ānandī, filled with bliss.” (Taittirīya Upaniṣad 2.7.1)
Śrīla Bhaktisiddhānta Sarasvatī quotes a further verse to explain the word rasa:
vyatītya bhāvanā-vartma
yaś camatkāra-bhāra-bhūḥ
hṛdi sattvojjvale bāḍhaṁ
svadate sa raso mataḥ
yaś camatkāra-bhāra-bhūḥ
hṛdi sattvojjvale bāḍhaṁ
svadate sa raso mataḥ
“That which is beyond imagination, heavy with wonder and relished in the heart shining with goodness — such is known as rasa.”
As Śrīla Rūpa Gosvāmī elaborately explains in his Bhakti-rasāmṛta-sindhu, there are five main rasas — neutrality, servitude, friendship, parental love and conjugal love — and seven secondary rasas — amazement, humor, chivalry, compassion, fury, fear and dread. Thus altogether there are twelve rasas, and the supreme object of them all is Śrī Kṛṣṇa Himself. In other words, our love and affection are actually meant for Śrī Kṛṣṇa. Unfortunately, out of ignorance we stubbornly try to squeeze happiness and love out of material relationships, which are not directly connected to Kṛṣṇa, and thus life becomes a constant frustration. The solution is simple: surrender to Kṛṣṇa, love Kṛṣṇa, love Kṛṣṇa’s devotees and be happy forever.
Devanagari
हतं कुवलयापीडं दृष्ट्वा तावपि दुर्जयौ । कंसो मनस्यपि तदा भृशमुद्विविजे नृप ॥ १८ ॥
Verse text
hataṁ kuvalayāpīḍaṁ
dṛṣṭvā tāv api durjayau
kaṁso manasy api tadā
bhṛśam udvivije nṛpa
dṛṣṭvā tāv api durjayau
kaṁso manasy api tadā
bhṛśam udvivije nṛpa
Synonyms
Translation
When Kaṁsa saw that Kuvalayāpīḍa was dead and the two brothers were invincible, he was overwhelmed with anxiety, O King.
Devanagari
तौ रेजतू रङ्गगतौ महाभुजौविचित्रवेषाभरणस्रगम्बरौ । यथा नटावुत्तमवेषधारिणौमन: क्षिपन्तौ प्रभया निरीक्षताम् ॥ १९ ॥
Verse text
tau rejatū raṅga-gatau mahā-bhujau
vicitra-veṣābharaṇa-srag-ambarau
yathā naṭāv uttama-veṣa-dhāriṇau
manaḥ kṣipantau prabhayā nirīkṣatām
vicitra-veṣābharaṇa-srag-ambarau
yathā naṭāv uttama-veṣa-dhāriṇau
manaḥ kṣipantau prabhayā nirīkṣatām
Synonyms
tau — the two of Them; rejatuḥ — shone; raṅga-gatau — present in the arena; mahā-bhujau — the mighty-armed Lords; vicitra — variegated; veṣa — whose style of dress; ābharaṇa — ornaments; srak — garlands; ambarau — and garments; yathā — like; naṭau — two actors; uttama — excellent; veṣa — costumes; dhāriṇau — wearing; manaḥ — the minds; kṣipantau — striking; prabhayā — with Their effulgences; nirīkṣatām — of those who looked on.
Translation
Arrayed with variegated ornaments, garlands and garments, just like a pair of excellently costumed actors, the two mighty-armed Lords shone splendidly in the arena. Indeed, They overpowered the minds of all onlookers with Their effulgences.
Devanagari
निरीक्ष्य तावुत्तमपूरुषौ जनामञ्चस्थिता नागरराष्ट्रका नृप । प्रहर्षवेगोत्कलितेक्षणानना:पपुर्न तृप्ता नयनैस्तदाननम् ॥ २० ॥
Verse text
nirīkṣya tāv uttama-pūruṣau janā
mañca-sthitā nāgara-rāṣṭrakā nṛpa
praharṣa-vegotkalitekṣaṇānanāḥ
papur na tṛptā nayanais tad-ānanam
mañca-sthitā nāgara-rāṣṭrakā nṛpa
praharṣa-vegotkalitekṣaṇānanāḥ
papur na tṛptā nayanais tad-ānanam
Synonyms
nirīkṣya — seeing; tau — both of Them; uttama-pūruṣau — the Supreme Personalities; janāḥ — the people; mañca — in the viewing galleries; sthitāḥ — sitting; nāgara — the city-dwellers; rāṣṭrakāḥ — and the people from outlying districts; nṛpa — O King; praharṣa — of their joy; vega — by the force; utkalita — made to expand widely; īkṣaṇa — their eyes; ānanāḥ — and faces; papuḥ — they drank; na — not; tṛptāḥ — satiated; nayanaiḥ — with their eyes; tat — of Them; ānanam — the faces.
Translation
O King, as the citizens of the city and the people from outlying districts gazed upon those two Supreme Personalities from their seats in the galleries, the force of the people’s happiness caused their eyes to open wide and their faces to blossom. They drank in the vision of the Lords’ faces without becoming satiated.
Devanagari
पिबन्त इव चक्षुर्भ्यां लिहन्त इव जिह्वया । जिघ्रन्त इव नासाभ्यां श्लिष्यन्त इव बाहुभि: ॥ २१ ॥ ऊचु: परस्परं ते वै यथादृष्टं यथाश्रुतम् । तद्रूपगुणमाधुर्यप्रागल्भ्यस्मारिता इव ॥ २२ ॥
Verse text
pibanta iva cakṣurbhyāṁ
lihanta iva jihvayā
jighranta iva nāsābhyāṁ
śliṣyanta iva bāhubhiḥ
lihanta iva jihvayā
jighranta iva nāsābhyāṁ
śliṣyanta iva bāhubhiḥ
ūcuḥ parasparaṁ te vai
yathā-dṛṣṭaṁ yathā-śrutam
tad-rūpa-guṇa-mādhurya-
prāgalbhya-smāritā iva
yathā-dṛṣṭaṁ yathā-śrutam
tad-rūpa-guṇa-mādhurya-
prāgalbhya-smāritā iva
Synonyms
pibantaḥ — drinking; iva — as if; cakṣurbhyām — with their eyes; lihantaḥ — licking; iva — as if; jihvayā — with their tongues; jighrantaḥ — smelling; iva — as if; nāsābhyām — with their nostrils; sliṣyantaḥ — embracing; iva — as if; bāhubhiḥ — with their arms; ūcuḥ — they spoke; parasparam — among one another; te — they; vai — indeed; yathā — just as; dṛṣṭam — they had seen; yathā — just as; śrutam — they had heard; tat — Their; rūpa — of the beauty; guṇa — qualities; mādhurya — charm; prāgalbhya — and bravery; smāritāḥ — reminded; iva — as if.
Translation
The people seemed to be drinking Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma with their eyes, licking Them with their tongues, smelling Them with their nostrils and embracing Them with their arms. Reminded of the Lords’ beauty, character, charm and bravery, the members of the audience began describing these features to one another according to what they had seen and heard.
Purport
Naturally, those who assembled in Mathurā for the wrestling festival had heard the latest news of Kṛṣṇa’s and Balarāma’s adventures in the city — how the Lords had broken the sacrificial bow, defeated the police and killed the elephant Kuvalayāpīḍa. And now that the people were seeing Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma enter the arena, their greatest expectations were confirmed. Kṛṣṇa is the embodiment of all beauty, fame and opulence, and therefore those assembled in the wrestling arena became fully satisfied by glorifying what they had heard of Him and were now seeing.
Devanagari
एतौ भगवत: साक्षाद्धरेर्नारायणस्य हि । अवतीर्णाविहांशेन वसुदेवस्य वेश्मनि ॥ २३ ॥
Verse text
etau bhagavataḥ sākṣād
dharer nārāyaṇasya hi
avatīrṇāv ihāṁśena
vasudevasya veśmani
dharer nārāyaṇasya hi
avatīrṇāv ihāṁśena
vasudevasya veśmani
Synonyms
etau — these two; bhagavataḥ — of the Supreme Lord; sākṣāt — directly; hareḥ — of Lord Hari; nārāyaṇasya — Nārāyaṇa; hi — certainly; avatīrṇau — have descended; iha — to this world; aṁśena — as expansions; vasudevasya — of Vasudeva; veśmani — in the home.
Translation
[The people said:] These two boys are certainly expansions of the Supreme Lord Nārāyaṇa who have descended to this world in the home of Vasudeva.
Devanagari
एष वै किल देवक्यां जातो नीतश्च गोकुलम् । कालमेतं वसन् गूढो ववृधे नन्दवेश्मनि ॥ २४ ॥
Verse text
eṣa vai kila devakyāṁ
jāto nītaś ca gokulam
kālam etaṁ vasan gūḍho
vavṛdhe nanda-veśmani
jāto nītaś ca gokulam
kālam etaṁ vasan gūḍho
vavṛdhe nanda-veśmani
Synonyms
Translation
This one [Kṛṣṇa] took birth from mother Devakī and was brought to Gokula, where He has remained concealed all this time, growing up in the house of King Nanda.
Devanagari
पूतनानेन नीतान्तं चक्रवातश्च दानव: । अर्जुनौ गुह्यक: केशी धेनुकोऽन्ये च तद्विधा: ॥ २५ ॥
Verse text
pūtanānena nītāntaṁ
cakravātaś ca dānavaḥ
arjunau guhyakaḥ keśī
dhenuko ’nye ca tad-vidhāḥ
cakravātaś ca dānavaḥ
arjunau guhyakaḥ keśī
dhenuko ’nye ca tad-vidhāḥ
Synonyms
pūtanā — the witch Pūtanā; anena — by Him; nītā — brought; antam — to her end; cakravātaḥ — whirlwind; ca — and; dānavaḥ — the demon; arjunau — the twin Arjuna trees; guhyakaḥ — the demon Śaṅkhacūḍa; keśī — the horse demon, Keśī; dhenukaḥ — the jackass demon, Dhenuka; anye — others; ca — and; tat-vidhāḥ — like them.
Translation
He made Pūtanā and the whirlwind demon meet with death, pulled down the twin Arjuna trees, and killed Śaṅkhacūḍa, Keśī, Dhenuka and similar demons.
Devanagari
गाव: सपाला एतेन दावाग्ने: परिमोचिता: । कालियो दमित: सर्प इन्द्रश्च विमद: कृत: ॥ २६ ॥ सप्ताहमेकहस्तेन धृतोऽद्रिप्रवरोऽमुना । वर्षवाताशनिभ्यश्च परित्रातं च गोकुलम् ॥ २७ ॥
Verse text
gāvaḥ sa-pālā etena
dāvāgneḥ parimocitāḥ
kāliyo damitaḥ sarpa
indraś ca vimadaḥ kṛtaḥ
dāvāgneḥ parimocitāḥ
kāliyo damitaḥ sarpa
indraś ca vimadaḥ kṛtaḥ
saptāham eka-hastena
dhṛto ’dri-pravaro ’munā
varṣa-vātāśanibhyaś ca
paritrātaṁ ca gokulam
dhṛto ’dri-pravaro ’munā
varṣa-vātāśanibhyaś ca
paritrātaṁ ca gokulam
Synonyms
gāvaḥ — the cows; sa — together with; pālāḥ — their tenders; etena — by Him; dāva-agneḥ — from the forest fire; parimocitāḥ — saved; kāliyaḥ — Kāliya; damitaḥ — subdued; sarpaḥ — the serpent; indraḥ — Indra; ca — and; vimadaḥ — prideless; kṛtaḥ — made; sapta-aham — for seven days; eka-hastena — with one hand; dhṛtaḥ — held; adri — of mountains; pravaraḥ — the most eminent; amunā — by Him; varṣa — from rain; vāta — wind; aśanibhyaḥ — and hail; ca — also; paritrātam — delivered; ca — and; gokulam — the residents of Gokula.
Translation
He saved the cows and the cowherds from a forest fire and subdued the serpent Kāliya. He removed Lord Indra’s false pride by holding up the best of mountains with one hand for an entire week, thus protecting the inhabitants of Gokula from rain, wind and hail.
Devanagari
गोप्योऽस्य नित्यमुदितहसितप्रेक्षणं मुखम् । पश्यन्त्यो विविधांस्तापांस्तरन्ति स्माश्रमं मुदा ॥ २८ ॥
Verse text
gopyo ’sya nitya-mudita-
hasita-prekṣaṇaṁ mukham
paśyantyo vividhāṁs tāpāṁs
taranti smāśramaṁ mudā
hasita-prekṣaṇaṁ mukham
paśyantyo vividhāṁs tāpāṁs
taranti smāśramaṁ mudā
Synonyms
Translation
The gopīs overcame all kinds of distress and experienced great happiness by seeing His face, which is always cheerful with smiling glances and ever free of fatigue.
Devanagari
वदन्त्यनेन वंशोऽयं यदो: सुबहुविश्रुत: । श्रियं यशो महत्वं च लप्स्यते परिरक्षित: ॥ २९ ॥
Verse text
vadanty anena vaṁśo ’yaṁ
yadoḥ su-bahu-viśrutaḥ
śriyaṁ yaśo mahatvaṁ ca
lapsyate parirakṣitaḥ
yadoḥ su-bahu-viśrutaḥ
śriyaṁ yaśo mahatvaṁ ca
lapsyate parirakṣitaḥ
Synonyms
Translation
It is said that under His full protection the Yadu dynasty will become extremely famous and attain wealth, glory and power.
Devanagari
अयं चास्याग्रज: श्रीमान्राम: कमललोचन: । प्रलम्बो निहतो येन वत्सको ये बकादय: ॥ ३० ॥
Verse text
ayaṁ cāsyāgrajaḥ śrīmān
rāmaḥ kamala-locanaḥ
pralambo nihato yena
vatsako ye bakādayaḥ
rāmaḥ kamala-locanaḥ
pralambo nihato yena
vatsako ye bakādayaḥ
Synonyms
Translation
This lotus-eyed elder brother of His, Lord Balarāma, is the proprietor of all transcendental opulences. He has killed Pralamba, Vatsaka, Baka and other demons.
Purport
In fact two of the demons mentioned here were killed by Kṛṣṇa, not Balarāma. The reason for the mistake is that as news of Kṛṣṇa’s exploits spread among ordinary people, the facts became somewhat muddled. The same tendency can be observed in modern newspapers.
Devanagari
जनेष्वेवं ब्रुवाणेषु तूर्येषु निनदत्सु च । कृष्णरामौ समाभाष्य चाणूरो वाक्यमब्रवीत् ॥ ३१ ॥
Verse text
janeṣv evaṁ bruvāṇeṣu
tūryeṣu ninadatsu ca
kṛṣṇa-rāmau samābhāṣya
cāṇūro vākyam abravīt
tūryeṣu ninadatsu ca
kṛṣṇa-rāmau samābhāṣya
cāṇūro vākyam abravīt
Synonyms
Translation
While the people talked in this way and the musical instruments resounded, the wrestler Cāṇūra addressed Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma with the following words.
Purport
Cāṇūra could not tolerate that the audience was praising Kṛṣṇa so highly. Therefore he had to say something to the two brothers.
Devanagari
हे नन्दसूनो हे राम भवन्तौ वीरसम्मतौ । नियुद्धकुशलौ श्रुत्वा राज्ञाहूतौ दिदृक्षुणा ॥ ३२ ॥
Verse text
he nanda-sūno he rāma
bhavantau vīra-sammatau
niyuddha-kuśalau śrutvā
rājñāhūtau didṛkṣuṇā
bhavantau vīra-sammatau
niyuddha-kuśalau śrutvā
rājñāhūtau didṛkṣuṇā
Synonyms
Translation
[Cāṇūra said:] O son of Nanda, O Rāma, You two are well respected by courageous men and are both skillful at wrestling. Having heard of Your prowess, the King has called You here, wanting to see for himself.
Devanagari
प्रियं राज्ञ: प्रकुर्वत्य: श्रेयो विन्दन्ति वै प्रजा: । मनसा कर्मणा वाचा विपरीतमतोऽन्यथा ॥ ३३ ॥
Verse text
priyaṁ rājñaḥ prakurvatyaḥ
śreyo vindanti vai prajāḥ
manasā karmaṇā vācā
viparītam ato ’nyathā
śreyo vindanti vai prajāḥ
manasā karmaṇā vācā
viparītam ato ’nyathā
Synonyms
Translation
Subjects of the King who try to please him with their thoughts, acts and words are sure to achieve good fortune, but those who fail to do so will suffer the opposite fate.
Devanagari
नित्यं प्रमुदिता गोपा वत्सपाला यथास्फुटम् । वनेषु मल्लयुद्धेन क्रीडन्तश्चारयन्ति गा: ॥ ३४ ॥
Verse text
nityaṁ pramuditā gopā
vatsa-pālā yathā-sphuṭam
vaneṣu malla-yuddhena
krīḍantaś cārayanti gāḥ
vatsa-pālā yathā-sphuṭam
vaneṣu malla-yuddhena
krīḍantaś cārayanti gāḥ
Synonyms
Translation
It is well known that cowherd boys are always joyful as they tend their calves, and that the boys playfully wrestle with each other while grazing their animals in the various forests.
Purport
Here Cāṇūra explains how the two brothers came to be expert at wrestling.
Devanagari
तस्माद् राज्ञ: प्रियं यूयं वयं च करवाम हे । भूतानि न: प्रसीदन्ति सर्वभूतमयो नृप: ॥ ३५ ॥
Verse text
tasmād rājñaḥ priyaṁ yūyaṁ
vayaṁ ca karavāma he
bhūtāni naḥ prasīdanti
sarva-bhūta-mayo nṛpaḥ
vayaṁ ca karavāma he
bhūtāni naḥ prasīdanti
sarva-bhūta-mayo nṛpaḥ
Synonyms
Translation
Therefore let’s do what the King wants. Everyone will be pleased with us, for the king embodies all living beings.
Devanagari
तन्निशम्याब्रवीत्कृष्णो देशकालोचितं वच: । नियुद्धमात्मनोऽभीष्टं मन्यमानोऽभिनन्द्य च ॥ ३६ ॥
Verse text
tan niśamyābravīt kṛṣṇo
deśa-kālocitaṁ vacaḥ
niyuddham ātmano ’bhīṣṭaṁ
manyamāno ’bhinandya ca
deśa-kālocitaṁ vacaḥ
niyuddham ātmano ’bhīṣṭaṁ
manyamāno ’bhinandya ca
Synonyms
Translation
Hearing this, Lord Kṛṣṇa, who liked to wrestle and welcomed the challenge, replied with words appropriate to the time and place.
Devanagari
प्रजा भोजपतेरस्य वयं चापि वनेचरा: । करवाम प्रियं नित्यं तन्न: परमनुग्रह: ॥ ३७ ॥
Verse text
prajā bhoja-pater asya
vayaṁ cāpi vane-carāḥ
karavāma priyaṁ nityaṁ
tan naḥ param anugrahaḥ
vayaṁ cāpi vane-carāḥ
karavāma priyaṁ nityaṁ
tan naḥ param anugrahaḥ
Synonyms
Translation
[Lord Kṛṣṇa said:] Although forest-dwellers, We are also subjects of the Bhoja king. We must gratify his desires, for such behavior will confer upon Us the greatest benefit.
Devanagari
बाला वयं तुल्यबलै: क्रीडिष्यामो यथोचितम् । भवेन्नियुद्धं माधर्म: स्पृशेन्मल्ल सभासद: ॥ ३८ ॥
Verse text
bālā vayaṁ tulya-balaiḥ
krīḍiṣyāmo yathocitam
bhaven niyuddhaṁ mādharmaḥ
spṛśen malla-sabhā-sadaḥ
krīḍiṣyāmo yathocitam
bhaven niyuddhaṁ mādharmaḥ
spṛśen malla-sabhā-sadaḥ
Synonyms
bālāḥ — young boys; vayam — We; tulya — equal; balaiḥ — with those whose strength; krīḍiṣyāmaḥ — We will play; yathā ucitam — in a fitting manner; bhavet — should occur; niyuddham — the wrestling match; mā — not; adharmaḥ — irreligion; spṛśet — should touch; malla-sabhā — of the assembly in the wrestling arena; sadaḥ — the members.
Translation
We are just young boys and should play with those of equal strength. The wrestling match must go on properly so that irreligion does not taint the respectable members of the audience.
Devanagari
चाणूर उवाच
न बालो न किशोरस्त्वं बलश्च बलिनां वर: । लीलयेभो हतो येन सहस्रद्विपसत्त्वभृत् ॥ ३९ ॥
न बालो न किशोरस्त्वं बलश्च बलिनां वर: । लीलयेभो हतो येन सहस्रद्विपसत्त्वभृत् ॥ ३९ ॥
Verse text
cāṇūra uvāca
na bālo na kiśoras tvaṁ
balaś ca balināṁ varaḥ
līlayebho hato yena
sahasra-dvipa-sattva-bhṛt
na bālo na kiśoras tvaṁ
balaś ca balināṁ varaḥ
līlayebho hato yena
sahasra-dvipa-sattva-bhṛt
Synonyms
cāṇūraḥ uvāca — Cāṇūra said; na — not; bālaḥ — a boy; na — not; kiśoraḥ — a youth; tvam — You; balaḥ — Balarāma; ca — and; balinām — of the strong; varaḥ — the best; līlayā — as play; ibhaḥ — the elephant; hataḥ — killed; yena — by whom; sahasra — of one thousand; dvipa — elephants; sattva — of the strength; bhṛt — the bearer.
Translation
Cāṇūra said: You aren’t really a child or even a young man, and neither is Balarāma, the strongest of the strong. After all, You playfully killed an elephant who had the strength of a thousand other elephants.
Devanagari
तस्माद्भवद्भ्यां बलिभिर्योद्धव्यं नानयोऽत्र वै । मयि विक्रम वार्ष्णेय बलेन सह मुष्टिक: ॥ ४० ॥
Verse text
tasmād bhavadbhyāṁ balibhir
yoddhavyaṁ nānayo ’tra vai
mayi vikrama vārṣṇeya
balena saha muṣṭikaḥ
yoddhavyaṁ nānayo ’tra vai
mayi vikrama vārṣṇeya
balena saha muṣṭikaḥ
Synonyms
tasmāt — therefore; bhavadbhyām — You two; balibhiḥ — with those who are strong; yoddhavyam — should fight; na — there is not; anayaḥ — injustice; atra — in this; vai — certainly; mayi — to me; vikrama — (show) Your prowess; vārṣṇeya — O descendant of Vṛṣṇi; balena saha — with Balarāma; muṣṭikaḥ — Muṣṭika (should fight).
Translation
Therefore You two should fight powerful wrestlers. There’s certainly nothing unfair about that. You, O descendant of Vṛṣṇi, can show Your prowess against me, and Balarāma can fight with Muṣṭika.
Purport
Thus end the purports of the humble servants of His Divine Grace A.C. Bhaktivedanta Swami Prabhupāda to the Tenth Canto, Forty-third Chapter, of the Śrīmad-Bhāgavatam, entitled “Kṛṣṇa Kills the Elephant Kuvalayāpīḍa.”