Shloka 40

Yoga-māyā Appears as Durgā; Kaṁsa’s Repentance and the Demonic Policy of Persecuting Vaiṣṇavas

Devanagari script

तस्मात् सर्वात्मना राजन् ब्राह्मणान् ब्रह्मवादिन: । तपस्विनो यज्ञशीलान् गाश्च हन्मो हविर्दुघा: ॥ ४० ॥

Transliteration

tasmāt sarvātmanā rājan brāhmaṇān brahma-vādinaḥ tapasvino yajña-śīlān gāś ca hanmo havir-dughāḥ

Translation

O King, we, who are your adherents in all respects, shall therefore kill the Vedic brahmanas, the persons engaged in offering sacrifices and austerities, and the cows that supply milk, from which clarified butter is obtained for the ingredients of sacrifice.

Synonyms

• तस्मात्: therefore, from that reason
• तस्मात्: Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तस्मात् इति अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः; हेतौ/तस्मादर्थे (ablatival adverbial)

• सर्वात्मना: entirely, with all one’s being
• सर्वात्मना: Prakaraṇa (प्रकरण/रीति)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: सर्व (प्रातिपदिक) + आत्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: अव्ययीभाव-समास; तृतीया-एकवचनरूपेण अव्ययवत् (‘with one’s whole self/entirely’)

• राजन्: O king
• राजन्: Sambodhana (सम्बोधन)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (vocative), एकवचन

• ब्राह्मणान्: brāhmaṇas
• ब्राह्मणान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ब्राह्मण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd), बहुवचन

• ब्रह्मवादिनः: speakers of brahman (Vedic truth)
• ब्रह्मवादिनः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ब्रह्म (प्रातिपदिक) + वादिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी/कर्मधारयार्थः: ‘ब्रह्म वदन्ति’); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd), बहुवचन; विशेषण of ब्राह्मणान्

• तपस्विनः: austere, ascetic
• तपस्विनः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: तपस्विन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd), बहुवचन; विशेषण of ब्राह्मणान्

• यज्ञशीलान्: devoted to sacrifice
• यज्ञशीलान्: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: यज्ञ (प्रातिपदिक) + शील (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘यज्ञे शीलं येषाम्’/‘यज्ञशील’); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd), बहुवचन; विशेषण of ब्राह्मणान्

• गाः: cows
• गाः: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गो (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (2nd), बहुवचन

• च: and
• च: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चयबोधक-अव्यय (conjunction)

• हन्मः: we kill
• हन्मः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: लट्/वर्तमाने (present indicative), उत्तमपुरुष (1st person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• हविर्दुघाः: yielding sacrificial oblations (milk for havis)
• हविर्दुघाः: Visheshana (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: हविस् (प्रातिपदिक) + दुह् (धातु) → दुघ (कृदन्त-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (‘हविः दुहन्ति’ = yielding oblation); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (1st), बहुवचन; विशेषण of गाः (cows)

Characters & Entities

• Kaṁsa
• Brāhmaṇas
• Cows

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about harming brāhmaṇas and cows?

This verse shows demoniac policy: targeting brāhmaṇas and cows undermines yajña, Vedic wisdom, and dharma—actions portrayed as grave adharma opposed to devotion.

Why did Kaṁsa’s ministers say this to Kaṁsa in Canto 10 Chapter 4?

To strengthen Kaṁsa’s tyrannical rule by destroying the pillars of Vedic society—saintly brāhmaṇas, austerity, sacrifice, and the cows that sustain offerings—thereby choking spiritual culture.

Practical application of this teaching in modern life?

Support and protect spiritual education, truthful teachers, and nonviolence—especially respect for sacred life and ethical living—rather than enabling systems that attack wisdom, worship, and compassion.