Shloka 10
Kṛṣṇa Slays Kuvalayāpīḍa and Enters Kaṁsa’s Wrestling Arena
ततोऽभिमुखमभ्येत्य पाणिनाहत्य वारणम् । प्राद्रवन् पातयामास स्पृश्यमान: पदे पदे ॥ १० ॥
tato ’bhimakham abhyetya pāṇināhatya vāraṇam prādravan pātayām āsa spṛśyamānaḥ pade pade
Kṛṣṇa then came face to face with the elephant, slapped him with His hand, and ran off. Kuvalayāpīḍa chased Him, seeming to touch Him at every step, but Kṛṣṇa outwitted the beast and made him stumble and fall.
FAQs
In this verse, Śukadeva describes Kṛṣṇa confronting the elephant directly and striking it with His hand, causing it to stumble and fall repeatedly—showing Kṛṣṇa’s effortless supremacy before the Kaṁsa-līlā climax.
Kuvalayāpīḍa was placed as an obstacle by Kaṁsa; Kṛṣṇa’s direct approach displays His fearlessness and His intent to remove every barrier before confronting Kaṁsa.
Face obstacles without hesitation and with steadiness; when one takes shelter of the Lord (or acts in dharma with courage), even overwhelming challenges lose their power step by step.