Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 6

The Killing of Cāṇūra, Muṣṭika, and Kaṁsa; Liberation and Restoration of Dharma in Mathurā

Devanagari script

तद् बलाबलवद्युद्धं समेता: सर्वयोषित: । ऊचु: परस्परं राजन् सानुकम्पा वरूथश: ॥ ६ ॥

Transliteration

tad balābalavad yuddhaṁ sametāḥ sarva-yoṣitaḥ ūcuḥ parasparaṁ rājan sānukampā varūthaśaḥ

Translation

My dear King, all the women present, considering the match an unfair fight between the strong and the weak, felt extreme anxiety due to compassion. They assembled in groups around the arena and spoke to one another as follows.

Synonyms

• तत्: that
• तत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म)/प्रथमा, एकवचन; demonstrative ‘that’ (here qualifying yuddham)

• बलाबलवत्: showing (both) strength and weakness
• बलाबलवत्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बल + अबल + वत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; ‘having strength and weakness’ (qualifying yuddham)

• युद्धम्: the fight
• युद्धम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: युद्ध (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; accusative singular

• समेताः: assembled
• समेताः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: समेत (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; सम् + √इ ‘to go’ → past participle)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (PPP) ‘assembled’

• सर्वयोषितः: all the women
• सर्वयोषितः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सर्व + योषित् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘all the women’ (sarvāḥ yoṣitaḥ)

• ऊचुः: said
• ऊचुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन; parasmaipada; ‘they said’

• परस्परम्: to one another
• परस्परम्: Sampradana (सम्प्रदान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: परस्पर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; adverbial accusative ‘to one another’

• राजन्: O King
• राजन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन (vocative/सम्बोधन), एकवचन

• सानुकम्पाः: compassionate
• सानुकम्पाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: स + अनुकम्पा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘with compassion’ (qualifying the women)

• वरूथशः: in groups
• वरूथशः: Kriya-visheshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वरूथशस् (अव्यय/प्रातिपदिक-निष्पन्न)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकारवाचक/वितरणार्थक ‘in groups, troop by troop’

Characters & Entities

• King Parīkṣit

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about the women of Mathura during Krishna’s fight?

This verse says the assembled women, seeing the intense contest, became compassionate and began speaking among themselves in groups.

Why does Śukadeva Gosvāmī address Parīkṣit as “rājan” here?

Śukadeva is narrating the Mathurā arena events directly to King Parīkṣit, keeping the dialogue frame of the Bhagavatam present while describing Kṛṣṇa’s līlā.

Practical application of compassion shown in this verse in modern life?

The verse highlights empathetic concern when witnessing suffering or danger—cultivating a soft heart and speaking responsibly with others rather than becoming insensitive spectators.