Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 37

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

Devanagari script

एतज्ज्ञात्वानय क्षिप्रं रामकृष्णाविहार्भकौ । धनुर्मखनिरीक्षार्थं द्रष्टुं यदुपुरश्रियम् ॥ ३७ ॥

Transliteration

etaj jñātvānaya kṣipraṁ rāma-kṛṣṇāv ihārbhakau dhanur-makha-nirīkṣārthaṁ draṣṭuṁ yadu-pura-śriyam

Translation

Now that you understand my intentions, please go at once and bring Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma to watch the bow sacrifice and see the opulence of the Yadus’ capital.

Synonyms

• एतत्: this (matter/thing)
• एतत्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: एतद् (प्रातिपदिक/सर्वनाम)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (कर्म), एकवचन; सर्वनाम-शब्द

• ज्ञात्वा: having known
• ज्ञात्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ज्ञा (धातु) + क्त्वा (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive/gerund), पूर्वक्रिया; ‘having known’

• आनय: bring
• आनय: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नी (धातु) उपसर्ग-आ + लोट्
• Form: लोट्-लकार (imperative), मध्यमपुरुष, एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• क्षिप्रम्: quickly
• क्षिप्रम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्षिप्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण/adverb)

• रामकृष्णौ: Rama and Krishna
• रामकृष्णौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राम (प्रातिपदिक) + कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास; पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन

• इह: here
• इह: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (देशवाचक/adverb of place)

• अर्भकौ: the two boys
• अर्भकौ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अर्भक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; ‘boys/children’ (apposition to रामकृष्णौ)

• धनुर्मखनिरीक्षार्थम्: for the purpose of seeing the bow-sacrifice
• धनुर्मखनिरीक्षार्थम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस् (प्रातिपदिक) + मख (प्रातिपदिक) + निरीक्षा (प्रातिपदिक) + अर्थ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष-समास; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; प्रयोजनार्थक (purpose)

• द्रष्टुम्: to see
• द्रष्टुम्: Prayojana (प्रयोजन)
• Type: Verb
• Root: दृश् (धातु) + तुमुन् (कृदन्त)
• Form: तुमुन्-प्रत्ययान्त (infinitive), प्रयोजनार्थ

• यदुपुरश्रियम्: the splendor of the Yadu city (Mathura)
• यदुपुरश्रियम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यदु (प्रातिपदिक) + पुर (प्रातिपदिक) + श्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास; स्त्रीलिङ्ग (श्री), द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; ‘the splendor of Yadu-city’

Characters & Entities

• Kaṁsa
• Balarāma (Rāma)
• Kṛṣṇa
• Yadus
• Mathurā

FAQs

Why did Kaṁsa call Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma to Mathurā in Srimad Bhagavatam?

Kaṁsa summons Them to Mathurā under the pretext of the Dhanur-yajña, intending to draw Them into his city and arrange Their harm, while presenting it outwardly as a festive invitation.

What is the Dhanur-makha (Dhanur-yajña) mentioned in Bhagavatam 10.36?

It refers to a ceremonial festival centered on a great bow-sacrifice; Kaṁsa uses this public occasion as a cover to invite Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma to Mathurā.

Practical application: what does this verse teach devotees today?

It highlights how worldly motives can hide behind religious or festive appearances; a devotee learns discernment, while trusting that Bhagavān’s presence ultimately overturns harmful intentions.