Srimad Bhagavatam — Dashama Skandha, Shloka 42
Akrūra’s Journey to Vraja and His Devotional Vision of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma
योऽवधीत्स्वस्वसुस्तोकान्क्रोशन्त्या असुतृप्खल: । किं नु स्वित्तत्प्रजानां व: कुशलं विमृशामहे ॥ ४२ ॥
yo ’vadhīt sva-svasus tokān krośantyā asu-tṛp khalaḥ kiṁ nu svit tat-prajānāṁ vaḥ kuśalaṁ vimṛśāmahe
That cruel, self-serving Kamsa murdered the infants of his own sister in her presence, even as she cried in anguish. So why should we even ask about the well-being of you, his subjects?
FAQs
This verse implies that when a ruler is driven by cruelty and insatiable greed, the subjects’ welfare (kuśala) cannot truly exist—adharma at the top spreads suffering throughout the kingdom.
Kṛṣṇa highlights Kaṁsa’s extreme adharma—killing his sister’s infants—to show the depth of tyranny in Mathurā and to frame the urgency and righteousness of confronting Kaṁsa.
It teaches discernment: when leadership—personal, social, or institutional—lacks compassion and restraint, harm spreads. Choose and cultivate dharmic leadership marked by protection, empathy, and responsibility.