The Slaying of Narakāsura (Bhaumāsura), Rescue of the Princesses, and the Pārijāta Episode Begins
तद् भौमसैन्यं भगवान् गदाग्रजो विचित्रवाजैर्निशितै: शिलीमुखै: । निकृत्तबाहूरुशिरोध्रविग्रहं चकार तर्ह्येव हताश्वकुञ्जरम् ॥ १६ ॥
tad bhauma-sainyaṁ bhagavān gadāgrajo vicitra-vājair niśitaiḥ śilīmukhaiḥ nikṛtta-bāhūru-śirodhra-vigrahaṁ cakāra tarhy eva hatāśva-kuñjaram
In diesem Moment schoss Lord Gadagraja Seine scharfen Pfeile auf Bhaumasuras Armee ab. Diese Pfeile, die bunte Federn zeigten, reduzierten diese Armee bald auf eine Masse von Körpern mit abgetrennten Armen, Schenkeln und Hälsen. Der Herr tötete ebenso die gegnerischen Pferde und Elefanten.
This verse describes how Śrī Kṛṣṇa swiftly destroyed Bhauma (Narakāsura)’s forces with sharp arrows, cutting down their bodies and killing their horses and elephants—showing the Lord’s effortless victory over adharma.
“Gadāgraja” means “the elder brother of Gadā,” a poetic way to identify Kṛṣṇa through His relationship with Balarāma (Gadā’s elder brother), commonly used in epic-Purāṇic Sanskrit style.
The verse reminds a devotee that when one takes shelter of Bhagavān, destructive forces of adharma are ultimately overcome; it inspires courage, faith, and steadiness in righteous action.