Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 25
The Killing of Cāṇūra, Muṣṭika, and Kaṁsa; Liberation and Restoration of Dharma in Mathurā
तथैव मुष्टिक: पूर्वं स्वमुष्ट्याभिहतेन वै । बलभद्रेण बलिना तलेनाभिहतो भृशम् ॥ २४ ॥ प्रवेपित: स रुधिरमुद्वमन् मुखतोऽर्दित: । व्यसु: पपातोर्व्युपस्थे वाताहत इवाङ्घ्रिप: ॥ २५ ॥
tathaiva muṣṭikaḥ pūrvaṁ sva-muṣṭyābhihatena vai balabhadreṇa balinā talenābhihato bhṛśam
Similarly, Muṣṭika struck Lord Balabhadra with his fist and was slain. Receiving a violent blow from the mighty Lord’s palm, the demon trembled all over in great pain, vomited blood and then fell lifeless onto the ground, like a tree blown down by the wind.
FAQs
This verse describes Balabhadra striking Muṣṭika powerfully with the flat of His hand until the wrestler trembles, vomits blood, and falls dead at His feet—like a tree felled by the wind.
In Kaṁsa’s arena, the wrestlers were engaged to attack Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma; Balabhadra accepts the combat and destroys Muṣṭika, protecting dharma and ending the violence of Kaṁsa’s allies.
It reminds us that brute force and arrogance are ultimately powerless before divine justice; cultivate humility and align strength with righteousness rather than aggression.