Shloka 24

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

Devanagari script

निर्भिन्नकुम्भा: करिणो निपेतु- रनेकशोऽश्वा: शरवृक्णकन्धरा: । रथा हताश्वध्वजसूतनायका: पदायतश्छिन्नभुजोरुकन्धरा: ॥ २४ ॥

Transliteration

nirbhinna-kumbhāḥ kariṇo nipetur anekaśo ’śvāḥ śara-vṛkṇa-kandharāḥ rathā hatāśva-dhvaja-sūta-nāyakāḥ padāyataś chinna-bhujoru-kandharāḥ

Translation

Elefanten stürzten zu Boden, die Stirn gespalten; Reiterpferde fielen mit von Pfeilen abgetrennten Hälsen. Wagen zerbarsten mitsamt Pferden, Bannern, Lenkern und Herren; und Fußsoldaten brachen zusammen, mit abgehauenen Armen, Schenkeln und Schultern.

Synonyms

• nirbhinna-kumbhāḥ: with temples split open
• nirbhinna-kumbhāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: nir+bhid (धातु) + kumbha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: भूतकाले क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (Past passive participle) ‘nirbhinna’; ‘kumbha’ इति उपपदेन समास; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (Masc. Nom. Pl.)

• kariṇaḥ: elephants
• kariṇaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: karin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (Masc. Nom. Pl.)

• nipetuḥ: fell down
• nipetuḥ: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ni+pat (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, बहुवचन (3rd Pl.); परस्मैपद

• anekaśaḥ: in great numbers
• anekaśaḥ: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: anekaśas (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; प्रकार/परिमाणवाचक (in many ways / in great numbers)

• aśvāḥ: horses
• aśvāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aśva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (Masc. Nom. Pl.)

• śara-vṛkṇa-kandharāḥ: whose necks were cut by arrows
• śara-vṛkṇa-kandharāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: śara (प्रातिपदिक) + vṛkṇa (वृश्च्/व्रश्च् धातु, क्त) + kandhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: ‘vṛkṇa’ = क्त-प्रत्ययान्त (cut); तत्पुरुष समास: शरेण वृक्णाः कन्धराः येषाम्; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (Masc. Nom. Pl.)

• rathāḥ: chariots
• rathāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ratha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (Masc. Nom. Pl.)

• hatāśva-dhvaja-sūta-nāyakāḥ: whose horses, banners, charioteers, and leaders were slain
• hatāśva-dhvaja-sūta-nāyakāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: hata (han धातु, क्त) + aśva (प्रातिपदिक) + dhvaja (प्रातिपदिक) + sūta (प्रातिपदिक) + nāyaka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुपद-तत्पुरुष: हताः अश्वाः ध्वजाः सूताः नायकाः येषाम्; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (Masc. Nom. Pl.)

• padāyataḥ: from the foot-soldiers
• padāyataḥ: Apadana (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: padāti (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (अपादान), एकवचन (Masc. Abl. Sg.); ‘from the infantry/foot-soldier’

• chinna-bhuja-ūru-kandharāḥ: whose arms, thighs, and necks were severed
• chinna-bhuja-ūru-kandharāḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: chinna (chid धातु, क्त) + bhuja (प्रातिपदिक) + ūru (प्रातिपदिक) + kandhara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष: छिन्नाः भुजाः ऊरवः कन्धराश्च येषाम्; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन (Masc. Nom. Pl.)

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Kālayaavana
• Yādava warriors

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam describe about the battlefield in Krishna’s pastimes?

This verse vividly depicts the devastation of war—elephants, horses, chariots, and infantry falling—showing the intense conflict surrounding Krishna’s protection of His people.

Why is Śukadeva Gosvāmī describing such graphic battle details in Canto 10?

He is narrating the historical events around Mathurā during Kālayaavana’s aggression, emphasizing the scale of the threat and the unfolding of Krishna’s divine strategy to protect the Yādavas.

What is a practical takeaway from Bhagavatam 10.50.24 for modern life?

Worldly power and military strength are fragile; the Bhagavatam urges seekers to take shelter of the Divine rather than relying solely on external force and pride.