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Shloka 23

Kṛṣṇa Kills Dantavakra; Balarāma’s Pilgrimage and the Slaying of Romaharṣaṇa

अप्रत्युत्थायिनं सूतमकृतप्रह्वणाञ्जलिम् । अध्यासीनं च तान् विप्रांश्चुकोपोद्वीक्ष्य माधव: ॥ २३ ॥

apratyutthāyinaṁ sūtam akṛta-prahvaṇāñjalim adhyāsīnaṁ ca tān viprāṁś cukopodvīkṣya mādhavaḥ

Sri Balarāma wurde äußerst zornig, als Er sah, wie dieses Mitglied der Sūta-Kaste es versäumt hatte, aufzustehen, sich zu verbeugen oder die Hände zu falten, und wie er auch über allen gelehrten Brāhmaṇas saß.

apratyutthāyinamone who did not rise (to greet)
apratyutthāyinam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Roota- (निषेध) + prati-ud√sthā (धातु) + ṇini/ṇvul-प्राय (प्रातिपदिक: pratyutthāyin)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; sūtam-विशेषण; ‘not rising up (in respect)’
sūtamthe charioteer/bard (Sūta)
sūtam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootsūta (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन
akṛta-prahvaṇa-añjalimnot having bowed with folded hands
akṛta-prahvaṇa-añjalim:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Roota-kṛta (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + prahvaṇa (प्रातिपदिक) + añjali (प्रातिपदिक)
Formतत्पुरुष; ‘one who has not made bowing and añjali’; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; sūtam-विशेषण
adhyāsīnamsitting (aloft)/remaining seated
adhyāsīnam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeAdjective
Rootadhi√ās (धातु) + kta (कृत्)
Formक्त-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; sūtam-विशेषण; ‘sitting on a higher seat/remaining seated’
caand
ca:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootca (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चय-बोधक अव्यय (conjunction)
tānthose
tān:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; viprān-विशेष्य-सूचक
viprānbrāhmaṇas
viprān:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootvipra (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन
cukopabecame angry
cukopa:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√kup (धातु)
Formलिट्-लकार (perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन; ‘became angry’
udvīkṣyahaving looked (at them)
udvīkṣya:
Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootud√īkṣ (धातु) + ल्यप् (कृत्, absolutive)
Formल्यप्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund); ‘having looked at’
mādhavaḥMādhava (Kṛṣṇa)
mādhavaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootmādhava (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; proper name of Kṛṣṇa

Romaharṣaṇa had failed to greet Lord Balarāma in any of the standard ways for welcoming a superior personality. Also, despite being of a lower caste, he sat in a seat above the assembly of exalted brāhmaṇas.

M
Mādhava (Śrī Kṛṣṇa)
S
Sūta (charioteer)
V
Viprāḥ (brāhmaṇas)

FAQs

This verse highlights dharmic conduct: one should rise, offer respectful obeisance, and greet properly—especially in the presence of the Lord and venerable brāhmaṇas.

Kṛṣṇa saw a lack of proper honor—no one stood up or offered folded-hand obeisance—so He reacted to the breach of respectful conduct (maryādā).

Practice humility and respect: acknowledge others sincerely, especially teachers, elders, and saintly persons—through attentive greeting, courteous speech, and appropriate gestures of honor.