Shloka 48

Jarāsandha’s Siege of Mathurā, Kṛṣṇa-Balarāma’s Victory, and the Founding of Dvārakā amid Kālayavana’s Threat

Devanagari script

तस्मादद्य विधास्यामो दुर्गं द्विपददुर्गमम् । तत्र ज्ञातीन् समाधाय यवनं घातयामहे ॥ ४८ ॥

Transliteration

tasmād adya vidhāsyāmo durgaṁ dvipada-durgamam tatra jñātīn samādhāya yavanaṁ ghātayāmahe

Translation

لذلك سنُشيِّد اليوم حالًا حصنًا لا تقدر قوة البشر على اقتحامه. نُسكن فيه أقرباءنا، ثم نقتل ملك اليافانا ذاك.

Synonyms

• तस्मात्: therefore; from that (reason)
• तस्मात्: Hetu/Apādāna (हेतु/अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; नपुंसकलिङ्गे/पुंलिङ्गे (प्रयोगानुसार), पञ्चमी-विभक्ति (5th/अपादान), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावार्थे ‘तस्मात्’ = ‘therefore/from that’

• अद्य: today/now
• अद्य: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (काल-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अद्य (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of time)

• विधास्यामः: we shall arrange/build
• विधास्यामः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धा (धातु) उपसर्गः वि-
• Form: लृट्-लकार (Future), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपदम्; धातु: √धा (to place/arrange) with वि- = ‘to construct/arrange’

• दुर्गम्: a fort
• दुर्गम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दुर्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• द्विपद-दुर्गमम्: impregnable to men (hard for bipeds to reach)
• द्विपद-दुर्गमम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: द्विपद (प्रातिपदिक) + दुर्गम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; विशेषणम् ‘दुर्गम्’ इति; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषार्थः (for bipeds/men) + ‘दुर्गम’ = hard to approach

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (adverb of place)

• ज्ञातीन्: kinsmen/relatives
• ज्ञातीन्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ज्ञाति (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• समाधाय: having settled/placed
• समाधाय: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-आ-धा (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund); धातु: √धा with उपसर्गौ सम्+आ; अर्थः ‘having placed/settled/installed’

• यवनम्: the Yavana (foreigner/Greek)
• यवनम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यवन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• घातयामहे: we will kill / cause to be slain
• घातयामहे: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु) णिच् (causative)
• Form: लट्-लकार (Present), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपदम्; धातु: √हन् (to kill) causative = ‘to cause to be killed/kill’

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Kālayavana

FAQs

Why did Krishna decide to build a fortress in Srimad Bhagavatam 10.50?

To safeguard His relatives and the Yadava community by establishing a stronghold that enemies could not easily penetrate, while preparing to neutralize the threat of Kālayavana.

Who is the 'Yavana' mentioned in this verse of the Bhagavatam?

In this chapter, the term 'Yavana' refers specifically to Kālayavana, the powerful foreign aggressor who attacked Mathurā.

What is the practical lesson from Krishna’s plan in this shloka?

Devotional life includes wise, dharmic planning—protecting dependents and acting strategically against danger while keeping one’s higher purpose centered on the Lord.