Shloka 21

Trivakrā’s Transformation and the Breaking of Kaṁsa’s Bow

Mathurā-līlā Prelude

Devanagari script

बलं च कंसप्रहितं हत्वा शालामुखात्तत: । निष्क्रम्य चेरतुर्हृष्टौ निरीक्ष्य पुरसम्पद: ॥ २१ ॥

Transliteration

balaṁ ca kaṁsa-prahitaṁ hatvā śālā-mukhāt tataḥ niṣkramya ceratur hṛṣṭau nirīkṣya pura-sampadaḥ

Translation

Nachdem sie auch das von Kaṁsa entsandte Truppenkontingent getötet hatten, verließen Kṛṣṇa und Balarāma die Arena durch das Haupttor. Dann wandelten sie froh durch die Stadt und betrachteten ihre Pracht und ihren Reichtum.

Synonyms

• बलम्: the force/army
• बलम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-निपात

• कंस-प्रहितम्: sent by Kaṁsa
• कंस-प्रहितम्: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कंस (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रहित (प्रातिपदिक; प्र-√हि)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कंसस्य प्रहितम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; बलम् विशेषणम्

• हत्वा: having slain
• हत्वा: Kriyā (क्रिया; पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √हन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund)

• शाला-मुखात्: from the entrance of the hall
• शाला-मुखात्: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शाला (प्रातिपदिक) + मुख (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (शालायाः मुखम्); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (Ablative), एकवचन

• ततः: then/from there
• ततः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय; तद् + तसिल्)
• Form: अव्यय (from there/then)

• निष्क्रम्य: having gone out
• निष्क्रम्य: Kriyā (क्रिया; पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: निस्-√क्रम् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा/ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund)

• चेरतुः: they roamed/walked about
• चेरतुः: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √चर् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन

• हृष्टौ: delighted
• हृष्टौ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हृष्ट (प्रातिपदिक; √हृष्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, द्विवचन; (बलराम-कृष्णयोः) विशेषणम्

• निरीक्ष्य: having observed
• निरीक्ष्य: Kriyā (क्रिया; पूर्वकर्म)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि-√ईक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा/ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund)

• पुर-सम्पदः: the city’s splendors/prosperities
• पुर-सम्पदः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पुर (प्रातिपदिक) + सम्पद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (पुरस्य सम्पदः); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), बहुवचन

Characters & Entities

• Kaṁsa
• Kṛṣṇa
• Balarāma

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam 10.42.21 describe after Krishna defeats Kaṁsa’s wrestler?

It says Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma, having killed the strong wrestler sent by Kaṁsa, came out from the arena entrance and happily wandered, observing the opulence of Mathurā.

Why were Krishna and Balarama joyful while walking through Mathurā?

Because Their mission was unfolding successfully—Kaṁsa’s aggression was being neutralized—and They freely displayed Their divine confidence while beholding the city’s grandeur.

What is the practical lesson of this verse for modern life?

After overcoming obstacles, one can remain steady and grateful—moving forward with clarity rather than fear—while appreciating what is good and beautiful without becoming attached.