Shloka 43
Gokula’s Wonder, Kṛṣṇa’s Bhakta-vaśyatā, the Move to Vṛndāvana, and the Slaying of Vatsāsura and Bakāsura
गृहीत्वापरपादाभ्यां सहलाङ्गूलमच्युत: । भ्रामयित्वा कपित्थाग्रे प्राहिणोद्गतजीवितम् । स कपित्थैर्महाकाय: पात्यमानै: पपात ह ॥ ४३ ॥
gṛhītvāpara-pādābhyāṁ saha-lāṅgūlam acyutaḥ bhrāmayitvā kapitthāgre prāhiṇod gata-jīvitam sa kapitthair mahā-kāyaḥ pātyamānaiḥ papāta ha
Then Śrī Kṛṣṇa, the infallible Acyuta, seized the demon by its hind legs and tail, whirled its body with tremendous force until life left it, and hurled it into the top of a kapittha tree. The tree crashed down, and the demon’s now-great body fell with it amid the fruits.
Kṛṣṇa killed the demon in such a way as to get the kapittha fruits to fall so that He and Balarāma and the other boys could take advantage of the opportunity to eat them. The kapittha is sometimes called kṣatbelphala. The pulp of this fruit is very palatable. It is sweet and sour, and everyone likes it.
FAQs
This verse describes how Śrī Kṛṣṇa, called Acyuta, effortlessly seized the demon, whirled him, and hurled him onto a kapittha tree, ending his life—showing the Lord’s supreme power in His Vraja pastimes.
Within the narrative of Vraja-līlā, the kapittha grove is linked to the demon’s disturbance; Kṛṣṇa’s act both kills the aggressor and clears fear and obstruction from the forest area, restoring safety for Vraja.
Remembering Kṛṣṇa as Acyuta strengthens faith that divine protection is real: one can face inner “demons” like fear, pride, and harmful habits by taking shelter of the Lord with steady devotion.