Shloka 12

Kṛṣṇa Slays Kuvalayāpīḍa and Enters Kaṁsa’s Wrestling Arena

Devanagari script

स्वविक्रमे प्रतिहते कुञ्जरेन्द्रोऽत्यमर्षित: । चोद्यमानो महामात्रै: कृष्णमभ्यद्रवद् रुषा ॥ १२ ॥

Transliteration

sva-vikrame pratihate kuñjarendro ’ty-amarṣitaḥ codyamāno mahāmātraiḥ kṛṣṇam abhyadravad ruṣā

Translation

His prowess thwarted, the lordly elephant became wildly enraged. Urged on by the keepers, he charged at Kṛṣṇa once again, seething with fury.

Synonyms

• स्व-विक्रमे: in/with his own prowess
• स्व-विक्रमे: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Locative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्व (प्रातिपदिक) + विक्रम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (स्वस्य विक्रमः); पुल्लिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन

• प्रतिहते: when (it was) thwarted/repelled
• प्रतिहते: Sati-saptami (सति-सप्तमी/Locative absolute)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: प्रति-हन् (धातु) → प्रतिहत (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त; पुल्लिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th), एकवचन; ‘when (it was) repelled’ (locative absolute sense with स्व-विक्रमे)

• कुञ्जर-इन्द्रः: the lord of elephants (the great elephant)
• कुञ्जर-इन्द्रः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुञ्जर (प्रातिपदिक) + इन्द्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (कुञ्जराणाम् इन्द्रः); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• अति-अमर्षितः: highly enraged
• अति-अमर्षितः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अति (उपसर्ग) + मृष्/मर्ष् (धातु) → अमर्षित (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त-प्रत्ययान्त भूतकृदन्त; पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; ‘greatly enraged/indignant’

• चोद्यमानः: being urged/driven
• चोद्यमानः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चुद् (धातु) → चोदय (णिच्) → चोद्यमान (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (present passive participle of causative); पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• महामात्रैः: by the officials/attendants
• महामात्रैः: Kartr-karana (कर्तृ-करण/Agent in passive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महामात्र (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), बहुवचन

• कृष्णम्: Krishna
• कृष्णम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• अभ्यद्रवत्: rushed at
• अभ्यद्रवत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अभि-√द्रु (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (imperfect/past); परस्मैपद; प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• रुषा: with anger
• रुषा: Hetu/Instrument (हेतु/करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुष्/रुषा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd), एकवचन; भावे (as manner/state)

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Kuvalayāpīḍa (the elephant)
• mahāmātras (royal officers of Kaṁsa)

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about Kuvalayāpīḍa attacking Krishna?

In Bhāgavatam 10.43.12, the elephant-king, enraged after being checked, is goaded by Kaṁsa’s officers and charges directly at Kṛṣṇa.

Why was the elephant urged on by the royal officers to attack Krishna?

Kaṁsa’s men were executing his plot to kill Kṛṣṇa before the wrestling match; they provoked the elephant to violently attack Him at the arena entrance.

Practical application of Krishna’s protection in modern life?

Even when danger is deliberately sent by others, a devotee can remember Kṛṣṇa’s supremacy and stay steady—responding with faith and composure rather than panic or retaliation.