Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 16

Kṛṣṇa Slays Kuvalayāpīḍa and Enters Kaṁsa’s Wrestling Arena

Devanagari script

वृतौ गोपै: कतिपयैर्बलदेवजनार्दनौ । रङ्गं विविशतू राजन् गजदन्तवरायुधौ ॥ १६ ॥

Transliteration

vṛtau gopaiḥ katipayair baladeva-janārdanau raṅgaṁ viviśatū rājan gaja-danta-varāyudhau

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.

Synonyms

• vṛtau: surrounded
• vṛtau: Karta (कर्ता/subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vṛta (कृदन्त; √वृ धातु ‘to cover/surround/choose’)
• Form: क्त (past passive participle) used adjectivally; प्रथमा (Nominative), द्विवचन (Dual), पुल्लिङ्ग

• gopaiḥ: by cowherds
• gopaiḥ: Karana (करण/Instrument/attendants)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gopa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (Instrumental/करण), बहुवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग

• katipayaiḥ: by a few
• katipayaiḥ: Visheshana (विशेषण/qualifier of gopaiḥ)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: katipaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तृतीया (Instrumental), बहुवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग; विशेषण (quantifier)

• baladeva-janārdanau: Baladeva and Janārdana (Krishna)
• baladeva-janārdanau: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: baladeva (प्रातिपदिक) + janārdana (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (copulative); प्रथमा, द्विवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग

• raṅgam: the arena
• raṅgam: Karma (कर्म/Object—destination)
• Type: Noun
• Root: raṅga (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वितीया (Accusative/कर्म), एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग

• viviśatū: entered (the two entered)
• viviśatū: Kriya (क्रिया/finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √viś (धातु) with reduplication (वि-विश्)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन

• rājan: O king
• rājan: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: rājan (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सम्बोधन (Vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग

• gaja-danta-vara-āyudhau: having excellent weapons—elephant tusks
• gaja-danta-vara-āyudhau: Karta (कर्ता/subject qualifier)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gaja (प्रातिपदिक) + danta (प्रातिपदिक) + vara (प्रातिपदिक) + āyudha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि (‘whose excellent weapons are elephant tusks’); प्रथमा, द्विवचन, पुल्लिङ्ग

Characters & Entities

• Balarāma
• Janārdana (Śrī Kṛṣṇa)
• King Parīkṣit

FAQs

Why did Krishna and Balarama enter the wrestling arena in Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 10?

They entered Kaṁsa’s arena to fulfill the divine plan—confronting the wrestlers and moving toward the downfall of Kaṁsa, thereby protecting devotees and restoring dharma.

What is the significance of Krishna and Balarama carrying elephant tusks in the Bhagavatam?

The tusks indicate their effortless victory over Kaṁsa’s elephant (Kuvalayāpīḍa) and symbolize the Lord’s supreme strength used in the service of protecting the righteous.

Practical application: what does this verse teach a devotee today?

A devotee learns courage and faith—when duty aligned with dharma calls, one should proceed steadily, relying on the Lord’s protection and purpose rather than fear.