Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 39
Kṛṣṇa Slays Kuvalayāpīḍa and Enters Kaṁsa’s Wrestling Arena
चाणूर उवाच न बालो न किशोरस्त्वं बलश्च बलिनां वर: । लीलयेभो हतो येन सहस्रद्विपसत्त्वभृत् ॥ ३९ ॥
cāṇūra uvāca na bālo na kiśoras tvaṁ balaś ca balināṁ varaḥ līlayebho hato yena sahasra-dvipa-sattva-bhṛt
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.
FAQs
It declares that Krishna is not an ordinary boy—He is ‘strength itself’ and the foremost among the powerful, proven by His effortless killing of the mighty elephant Kuvalayāpīḍa.
Before wrestling, Cāṇūra acknowledges Krishna’s extraordinary prowess—especially the recent slaying of Kuvalayāpīḍa—recognizing that Krishna is no ordinary youth entering the arena.
The verse teaches that the Supreme Lord’s actions, though appearing playful, can accomplish what seems impossible—encouraging devotees to cultivate faith that divine power works beyond material limits.