Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 10

The Killing of Ariṣṭāsura and Kaṁsa’s Plot to Summon Kṛṣṇa

Devanagari script

अग्रन्यस्तविषाणाग्र: स्तब्धासृग्लोचनोऽच्युतम् । कटाक्षिप्याद्रवत्तूर्णमिन्द्रमुक्तोऽशनिर्यथा ॥ १० ॥

Transliteration

agra-nyasta-viṣāṇāgraḥ stabdhāsṛg-locano ’cyutam kaṭākṣipyādravat tūrṇam indra-mukto ’śanir yathā

Translation

Pointing the tips of his horns straight ahead and glaring menacingly at Lord Kṛṣṇa from the corners of his bloodshot eyes, Ariṣṭa rushed toward Him at full speed, like a thunderbolt hurled by Indra.

Synonyms

• अग्रन्यस्तविषाणाग्रः: (he) with the tip of his horn thrust forward
• अग्रन्यस्तविषाणाग्रः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अग्र (प्रातिपदिक) + न्यस्त (कृदन्त; नि + √अस्/न्यस्, क्त) + विषाण (प्रातिपदिक) + अग्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: अग्रे न्यस्तं विषाणाग्रं यस्य सः (whose horn-tip was set forward)

• स्तब्धासृग्लोचनः: (he) whose eyes were bloodshot and staring
• स्तब्धासृग्लोचनः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्तब्ध (कृदन्त; √स्तभ्, क्त) + असृक् (प्रातिपदिक) + लोचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; बहुव्रीहि: स्तब्धम् असृक् (रक्तम्) यस्य लोचने (whose eyes were fixed with blood)

• अच्युतम्: Achyuta (Krishna)
• अच्युतम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अच्युत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• कटाक्षिप्य: having glanced sidelong
• कटाक्षिप्य: Purvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: कटा + √अक्ष्/ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); ‘कटाक्षं कृत्वा/दत्त्वा’ (having cast a sidelong glance)

• अद्रवत्: ran/charged
• अद्रवत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ + √द्रु (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect/past), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपदी

• तूर्णम्: swiftly
• तूर्णम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तूर्णम् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; शीघ्रार्थक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb)

• इन्द्रमुक्तः: released by Indra
• इन्द्रमुक्तः: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक) + मुक्त (कृदन्त; √मुच्, क्त)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: इन्द्रेण मुक्तः (released by Indra)

• अशनिः: a thunderbolt
• अशनिः: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अशनि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/प्रथमा), एकवचन

• यथा: as/like
• यथा: Upamā (उपमा)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; उपमावाचक (comparative particle)

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa (Acyuta)
• Indra
• Ariṣṭāsura

FAQs

What happens when Ariṣṭāsura charges at Krishna in Bhagavatam 10.36?

Ariṣṭāsura, with horns thrust forward and bloodshot eyes fixed on Acyuta (Krishna), rushes at Him with great speed, compared to Indra’s thunderbolt.

Why is Krishna called Acyuta in this verse?

Acyuta means “the infallible one”—the Lord who never falls from His divine position; the name emphasizes Krishna’s unshakable supremacy even when attacked by powerful demons.

What is the practical lesson from this shloka for devotees today?

Even when danger appears sudden and forceful, remembrance of the Lord as Acyuta inspires steadiness—trusting that divine protection and right action can meet fear without panic.