Shloka 57
Bhīṣma’s Yogic Departure, Royal Cremation, and Gaṅgā’s Lament (भीष्मस्य योगयुक्त्या देहत्यागः, पितृमेधः, गङ्गाविलापः)
बाल एव महाबाहुश्चकार कदनं महत् । कंसस्य पुण्डरीकाक्षो ज्ञातित्राणार्थकारणात्,महाबाहु कमलनयन श्रीकृष्णने बचपनमें ही अपने बन्धु-बान्धवोंकी रक्षाके लिये कंसका बड़ा भारी संहार किया था
bāla eva mahābāhuś cakāra kadanaṃ mahat | kaṃsasya puṇḍarīkākṣo jñātitrāṇārthakāraṇāt ||
Bhishma sprach: Selbst noch als Kind vollbrachte Krishna, der mächtigarmige, lotosäugige, eine gewaltige Vernichtung an Kamsa—und tat dies, um seine eigenen Verwandten zu schützen. So kann Gewaltkraft, wenn sie eingesetzt wird, um Unschuldige zu schirmen und die rechte Ordnung zu wahren, eine dharmische Notwendigkeit sein und nicht bloß blinde Gewalt.
भीष्म उवाच
Educational Q&A
The verse frames Krishna’s slaying of Kamsa as an act motivated by protection of relatives and the vulnerable. Ethically, it suggests that harsh action can be justified when it is undertaken for safeguarding others and restraining tyranny, aligning power with dharma rather than personal hatred.
Bhishma cites Krishna’s early-life deed: though still a child, Krishna brought about Kamsa’s downfall. He emphasizes the motive—rescuing and protecting Krishna’s own people—using Krishna as an exemplar of protective, dharma-oriented action.