Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 8

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

Devanagari script

क्‍व वज्रसारसर्वाङ्गौ मल्लौ शैलेन्द्रसन्निभौ । क्‍व चातिसुकुमाराङ्गौ किशोरौ नाप्तयौवनौ ॥ ८ ॥

Transliteration

kva vajra-sāra-sarvāṅgau mallau śailendra-sannibhau kva cāti-sukumārāṅgau kiśorau nāpta-yauvanau

Translation

What comparison can there be between these two professional wrestlers, with limbs as strong as lightning bolts and bodies resembling mighty mountains, and these two young, immature boys with exceedingly tender limbs?

Synonyms

• क्व: where (indeed)
• क्व: Bhava-prakashaka (भावप्रकाशक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्व (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रश्न/विस्मयार्थक ‘where?/how (in contrast)’

• वज्रसारसर्वाङ्गौ: having bodies hard as adamant
• वज्रसारसर्वाङ्गौ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वज्र + सार + सर्वाङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; bahuvrīhi ‘whose whole body is adamantine/solid’ (qualifying mallau)

• मल्लौ: the two wrestlers
• मल्लौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मल्ल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; nominative dual

• शैलेन्द्रसन्निभौ: like mountains
• शैलेन्द्रसन्निभौ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: शैल-इन्द्र + सन्निभ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; ‘like the lord of mountains’ (mountain-like)

• क्व: and where
• क्व: Bhava-prakashaka (भावप्रकाशक)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: क्व (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; contrastive repetition

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; conjunction ‘and’

• अतिसुकुमाराङ्गौ: very tender-limbed
• अतिसुकुमाराङ्गौ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति (अव्यय) + सुकुमार + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; bahuvrīhi ‘whose limbs are very delicate’ (qualifying kiśorau)

• किशोरौ: the two youths
• किशोरौ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: किशोर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; nominative dual

• न: not
• न: Pratishedha (प्रतिषेध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: न (अव्यय)
• Form: निषेधार्थक-अव्यय; negation

• आप्तयौवनौ: not yet come to full youth
• आप्तयौवनौ: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आप्त + यौवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; bahuvrīhi ‘who have not attained youth’ (with preceding negation न)

Characters & Entities

• Krishna
• Balarama
• Cāṇūra
• Muṣṭika
• Kaṁsa

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam 10.44.8 mean about Krishna and Balarama facing the wrestlers?

It voices the crowd’s astonishment: the wrestlers appear mountain-like and iron-hard, while Krishna and Balarama look like tender adolescents—highlighting the seeming mismatch before the Lord’s divine power is revealed.

Why did the people in Kaṁsa’s arena say this about the wrestlers and the two boys?

Seeing Cāṇūra and Muṣṭika as massive professional fighters and Krishna-Balarama as youthful and delicate, the spectators expressed concern and disbelief—unaware that the Supreme Lord had come to end Kaṁsa’s tyranny.

What is a practical lesson from this shloka for modern life?

Do not judge strength only by outward appearance; righteousness and divine support can overturn intimidating odds, encouraging courage, faith, and perseverance when facing seemingly “mountain-like” challenges.