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Shloka 31

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

अजानतैवाचरितस्त्वया ब्रह्मवधो यथा । योगेश्वरस्य भवतो नाम्नायोऽपि नियामक: ॥ ३१ ॥ यद्येतद् ब्रह्महत्याया: पावनं लोकपावन । चरिष्यति भवाँल्ल‍ोकसङ्ग्रहोऽनन्यचोदित: ॥ ३२ ॥

ajānataivācaritas tvayā brahma-vadho yathā yogeśvarasya bhavato nāmnāyo ’pi niyāmakaḥ

Du hast unwissentlich einen Brahmana getötet. Natürlich können Dir, dem Herrn aller mystischen Kräfte, nicht einmal die Gebote der offenbarten Schriften etwas vorschreiben. Aber wenn Du aus eigenem freiem Willen dennoch die vorgeschriebene Reinigung für diese Tötung eines Brahmana durchführst, o Reiniger der ganzen Welt, werden die Menschen im Allgemeinen sehr von Deinem Beispiel profitieren.

ajānataunknowingly
ajānata:
Hetu (हेतु/भाव)
TypeAdjective
Roota-jānat (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक; √jñā)
Formवर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ/शानच्-आधारित), नकारान्त; पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), एकवचन; ‘not knowing’
evaindeed
eva:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Rooteva (अव्यय)
Formअवधारण (emphatic particle)
ācaritaḥwas committed
ācaritaḥ:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeVerb
Rootā-√car (धातु)
Formभूतकृदन्त (क्त/PPP), पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘performed/committed’
tvayāby you
tvayā:
Karana (करण)
TypeNoun
Roottvad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), एकवचन; 2nd person pronoun
brahma-vadhaḥthe killing of a brāhmaṇa
brahma-vadhaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootbrahma-vadha (प्रातिपदिक)
Formषष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (genitive tatpuruṣa: ‘of a brāhmaṇa’ + ‘killing’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन
yathāas; just as
yathā:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootyathā (अव्यय)
Formउपमान/प्रकारवाचक अव्यय (comparative/manner adverb)
yogeśvarasyaof the Lord of yoga
yogeśvarasya:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Rootyoga-īśvara (प्रातिपदिक)
Formषष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (‘lord of yoga’); पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/genitive), एकवचन
bhavataḥof you
bhavataḥ:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/षष्ठी)
TypeNoun
Rootbhavat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th), एकवचन; आदरार्थ सर्वनाम
nāmnāyaḥscriptural injunction/tradition
nāmnāyaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootnāmnāya (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘scriptural tradition/authority’
apieven; also
api:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootapi (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चय/अपि-कार (particle: ‘also/even’)
niyāmakaḥregulator; controller
niyāmakaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootniyāmaka (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन
K
Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

This verse acknowledges the gravity of brahmahatyā, yet points to Kṛṣṇa’s unique position as the supreme controller of the Vedic order, implying that His actions transcend ordinary karmic fault while still honoring dharma for the world’s instruction.

Because Kṛṣṇa is yogeśvara and the source behind scriptural law; the speaker highlights the paradox that although an apparent fault occurred, Kṛṣṇa ultimately governs the very rules by which faults are judged.

Take responsibility for harm done, honor ethical and spiritual guidelines, and seek purification through sincere rectification—while remembering that divine will is higher than our limited judgments.