Shloka 19

Kṛṣṇa Slays Kuvalayāpīḍa and Enters Kaṁsa’s Wrestling Arena

Devanagari script

तौ रेजतू रङ्गगतौ महाभुजौविचित्रवेषाभरणस्रगम्बरौ । यथा नटावुत्तमवेषधारिणौमन: क्षिपन्तौ प्रभया निरीक्षताम् ॥ १९ ॥

Transliteration

tau rejatū raṅga-gatau mahā-bhujau vicitra-veṣābharaṇa-srag-ambarau yathā naṭāv uttama-veṣa-dhāriṇau manaḥ kṣipantau prabhayā nirīkṣatām

Translation

Entering the arena, the two mighty-armed Lords shone brilliantly, adorned with variegated ornaments, garlands, and garments, like a pair of actors in the finest costume. Their effulgence stole the minds of all who gazed upon Them.

Synonyms

• tau: those two
• tau: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (pronoun/सर्वनाम), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Dual (द्विवचन)

• rejatū: shone, glittered
• rejatū: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √rej (धातु)
• Form: Laṭ-lakāra (लट्/present), Prathama-puruṣa (प्रथमपुरुष), Dual (द्विवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)

• raṅga-gatau: having gone to the arena
• raṅga-gatau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of tau
• Type: Adjective
• Root: raṅga + gata (प्रातिपदिक; √gam-क्त)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa-samāsa (तत्पुरुष): raṅge gatau; Past participle (क्त/ktá) from √gam, Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Dual (द्विवचन)

• mahā-bhujau: with mighty arms
• mahā-bhujau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of tau
• Type: Adjective
• Root: mahā + bhuja (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya-samāsa (कर्मधारय): mahāḥ bhujau yasya; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Dual (द्विवचन)

• vicitra-veṣa-ābharaṇa-srak-ambarau: wearing wondrous dress, ornaments, garlands, and garments
• vicitra-veṣa-ābharaṇa-srak-ambarau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of tau
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vicitra + veṣa + ābharaṇa + sraj + ambara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Samāhāra/itaretara-dvandva-like descriptive compound (समाहार/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व-प्राय): (vicitra-veṣa) + (ābharaṇa) + (sraj) + (ambara); Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Dual (द्विवचन)

• yathā: as, like
• yathā: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध) / Upamā-marker
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: yathā (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya (indeclinable/अव्यय), comparative particle (उपमा/यथा)

• naṭau: two actors
• naṭau: Upamāna (उपमान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: naṭa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Dual (द्विवचन)

• uttama-veṣa-dhāriṇau: wearing excellent costumes
• uttama-veṣa-dhāriṇau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण) of tau / naṭau
• Type: Adjective
• Root: uttama + veṣa + dhārin (प्रातिपदिक; √dhṛ-णिनि)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa-samāsa (तत्पुरुष): uttamaṃ veṣaṃ dhārayataḥ; Agent noun (णिनि/ṇini) from √dhṛ ‘to wear/hold’; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Dual (द्विवचन)

• manaḥ: the mind
• manaḥ: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: manas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular (एकवचन)

• kṣipantau: casting, throwing (away)
• kṣipantau: Karta (कर्ता) (participial predicate of tau)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṣip (धातु)
• Form: Śatṛ-pratyaya present active participle (शतृ/वर्तमान कृदन्त), Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Dual (द्विवचन)

• prabhayā: by (their) radiance
• prabhayā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: prabhā (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन)

• nirīkṣatām: of the onlookers
• nirīkṣatām: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √nir-īkṣ (धातु)
• Form: Śatṛ/Śānac-type genitive plural participial/agentive usage; here Genitive plural (षष्ठी/6), Plural (बहुवचन) of present participle used as ‘of those who were watching’ (निरीक्षताम्)

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Balarāma

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam 10.43.19 describe about Krishna and Balarama in the arena?

It describes Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma entering the wrestling arena, shining with splendid attire and ornaments, and captivating everyone’s minds by Their radiant presence.

Who is speaking this verse in the Bhagavata Purana?

Śukadeva Gosvāmī speaks this verse while narrating Kṛṣṇa’s Mathurā-līlā to King Parīkṣit.

What is the practical lesson of this shloka for modern life?

It highlights the transformative power of divine darśana—by turning the mind toward the Lord’s beauty and presence, one’s attention naturally shifts away from distraction and toward devotion.