Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 38

Kṛṣṇa Slays Kuvalayāpīḍa and Enters Kaṁsa’s Wrestling Arena

Devanagari script

बाला वयं तुल्यबलै: क्रीडिष्यामो यथोचितम् । भवेन्नियुद्धं माधर्म: स्पृशेन्मल्ल सभासद: ॥ ३८ ॥

Transliteration

bālā vayaṁ tulya-balaiḥ krīḍiṣyāmo yathocitam bhaven niyuddhaṁ mādharmaḥ spṛśen malla-sabhā-sadaḥ

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.

Synonyms

• बालाः: boys, youngsters
• बालाः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बाल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• वयम्: we
• वयम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अस्मद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: प्रथमा (1st), बहुवचन

• तुल्यबलैः: with equals in strength
• तुल्यबलैः: Sahakāraka (सह/साकं)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तुल्य (प्रातिपदिक) + बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय (तुल्यं बलं येषां ते/तैः); पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन; सहार्थे

• क्रीडिष्यामः: we will play
• क्रीडिष्यामः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: क्रीड् (धातु)
• Form: लृट् (Simple Future), परस्मैपद; उत्तमपुरुष (1st), बहुवचन

• यथा: as
• यथा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: यथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (प्रकारवाचक)

• उचितम्: properly, suitably
• उचितम्: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उच् (धातु) + क्त (कृदन्त) / उचित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययभावे (adverbial accusative) ‘properly’

• भवेत्: should be
• भवेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भू (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• नियुद्धम्: a fight (wrestling bout)
• नियुद्धम्: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नि-युध् (धातु) + घञ्/प्रातिपदिक नियुद्ध
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• मा: do not
• मा: Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मा (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक अव्यय (prohibitive particle)

• अधर्मः: unrighteousness, impropriety
• अधर्मः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अधर्म (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘अधर्मः’ कर्तृपद (predicate)

• स्पृशेत्: should touch / should affect
• स्पृशेत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: स्पृश् (धातु)
• Form: विधिलिङ् (Optative), परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• मल्लसभासदः: a member of the wrestlers' assembly
• मल्लसभासदः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मल्ल (प्रातिपदिक) + सभा (प्रातिपदिक) + सद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (मल्लानां सभायां सदः = assembly-member of wrestlers); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Balarama

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about fairness and dharma in competition?

This verse shows that even in a public sport like wrestling, the standard of dharma is fairness—matching equals and avoiding adharma (injustice) disguised as entertainment.

Why did the spectators object to Krishna and Balarama fighting the wrestlers?

Seeing Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma as youthful boys and the wrestlers as powerful professionals, the audience appealed for a match with equal strength so the contest would remain proper and not turn into adharma.

Practical application of this shloka in modern life?

Choose fair standards in competition—avoid exploiting unequal power, and speak up when rules or systems become unjust, even if the setting is “just a game” or public spectacle.