Shloka 2

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

Devanagari script

हस्ताभ्यां हस्तयोर्बद्ध्वा पद्‌भ्यामेव च पादयो: । विचकर्षतुरन्योन्यं प्रसह्य विजिगीषया ॥ २ ॥

Transliteration

hastābhyāṁ hastayor baddhvā padbhyām eva ca pādayoḥ vicakarṣatur anyonyaṁ prasahya vijigīṣayā

Translation

Sie packten einander an den Händen und verhakten die Beine, dann zerrten die Gegner mit Gewalt aneinander, begierig nach dem Sieg.

Synonyms

• हस्ताभ्याम्: with (their) hands
• हस्ताभ्याम्: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), द्विवचन

• हस्तयोः: of (each other’s) hands
• हस्तयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हस्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी/सप्तमी (6th/Genitive or 7th/Locative), द्विवचन; अत्र षष्ठी (of the two hands)

• बद्ध्वा: having bound
• बद्ध्वा: Purvakala-kriya (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: बन्ध् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund), पूर्वकाल (having bound)

• पद्भ्याम्: with (their) feet
• पद्भ्याम्: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया, द्विवचन

• एव: indeed
• एव: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एव (अव्यय)
• Form: अवधारणार्थक-अव्यय (only/indeed)

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय (and)

• पादयोः: of (each other’s) feet
• पादयोः: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पाद (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी/सप्तमी, द्विवचन; अत्र षष्ठी (of the two feet)

• विचकर्षतुः: they dragged/pulled
• विचकर्षतुः: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृष् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), द्विवचन (Dual), परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग-वि (apart)

• अन्योन्यम्: each other
• अन्योन्यम्: Karma (कर्म/Reciprocal object)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अन्योन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: परस्परार्थक-अव्यय (reciprocal adverbial accusative)

• प्रसह्य: forcibly
• प्रसह्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सह् (धातु)
• Form: ल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (absolutive), बलात् (forcibly)

• विजिगीषया: with a desire to win
• विजिगीषया: Hetu (हेतु/Motive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: जि (धातु)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), एकवचन; इच्छा/हेतु (with the desire to conquer)

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Cāṇūra

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna’s wrestling with Chanoora?

This verse describes the intense clinch of the bout—Kṛṣṇa and Cāṇūra locking hands and feet and forcefully dragging one another, each striving for victory.

Why did Krishna fight in the Mathura wrestling arena?

In the narrative of Canto 10, Kṛṣṇa enters Kaṁsa’s arena to end the oppression in Mathurā by defeating Kaṁsa’s champion wrestlers and ultimately Kaṁsa himself, reestablishing dharma.

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

Determination and disciplined effort are essential in any struggle; for a devotee, strength and skill are offered in service of righteousness rather than ego.