Shloka 26
Trivakrā’s Transformation and the Breaking of Kaṁsa’s Bow
Mathurā-līlā Prelude
कंसस्तु धनुषो भङ्गं रक्षिणां स्वबलस्य च । वधं निशम्य गोविन्दरामविक्रीडितं परम् ॥ २६ ॥ दीर्घप्रजागरो भीतो दुर्निमित्तानि दुर्मति: । बहून्यचष्टोभयथा मृत्योर्दौत्यकराणि च ॥ २७ ॥
kaṁsas tu dhanuṣo bhaṅgaṁ rakṣiṇāṁ sva-balasya ca vadhaṁ niśamya govinda- rāma-vikrīḍitaṁ param
Der ruchlose Kaṁsa jedoch geriet in Schrecken, als er hörte, dass Govinda und Rāma den Bogen zerbrochen und seine Wächter und Soldaten gleichsam spielerisch getötet hatten. Lange blieb er wach, und sowohl im Wachen als auch im Traum sah er viele böse Vorzeichen, wie Boten des Todes.
FAQs
This verse notes that Kaṁsa heard how Kṛṣṇa broke the bow and how the guards and Kaṁsa’s soldiers were killed, recognizing these events as the supreme pastime of Govinda and Balarāma.
Because the news showed that Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma were overpowering Kaṁsa’s defenses with ease, and Kaṁsa understood these acts as extraordinary divine play—signaling his impending danger.
The verse contrasts the devotee’s reverence with the tyrant’s fear: recognizing a higher divine order can shift one from anxiety and control to humility, accountability, and trust.