Shloka 2

Kṛṣṇa Slays Kuvalayāpīḍa and Enters Kaṁsa’s Wrestling Arena

Devanagari script

रङ्गद्वारं समासाद्य तस्मिन् नागमवस्थितम् । अपश्यत्कुवलयापीडं कृष्णोऽम्बष्ठप्रचोदितम् ॥ २ ॥

Transliteration

raṅga-dvāraṁ samāsādya tasmin nāgam avasthitam apaśyat kuvalayāpīḍaṁ kṛṣṇo ’mbaṣṭha-pracoditam

Translation

Reaching the entrance of the arena, Lord Kṛṣṇa saw the elephant Kuvalayāpīḍa blocking His path, urged on by its keeper.

Synonyms

• रङ्ग-द्वारम्: the arena gate
• रङ्ग-द्वारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक) + द्वार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; समासः: रङ्गस्य द्वारम्

• समासाद्य: having approached
• समासाद्य: Purvakala (पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्+आ√सद् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (gerund)

• तस्मिन्: there/in that place
• तस्मिन्: Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुं/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• नागम्: the elephant
• नागम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: नाग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अवस्थितम्: standing/positioned
• अवस्थितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अवस्थित (कृदन्त; अव√स्था)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त)

• अपश्यत्: saw
• अपश्यत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पश् (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष, एकवचन

• कुवलयापीडम्: Kuvalayāpīḍa
• कुवलयापीडम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कुवलयापीड (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन (elephant’s proper name)

• कृष्णः: Kṛṣṇa
• कृष्णः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• अम्बष्ठ-प्रचोदितम्: urged on by the elephant-driver (Ambaṣṭha)
• अम्बष्ठ-प्रचोदितम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अम्बष्ठ (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रचोदित (कृदन्त; प्र√चुद्)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, एकवचन; भूतकृदन्त (क्त) ‘प्रचोदित’ = ‘urged’; समासः: अम्बष्ठेन प्रचोदितम् (agent/instrumental sense)

Purport

The elephant-keeper revealed his malicious intent by blocking Lord Kṛṣṇa’s entrance into the arena.

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa
• Kuvalayāpīḍa
• Ambāṣṭha

FAQs

Who is Kuvalayāpīḍa in Srimad Bhagavatam Canto 10?

Kuvalayāpīḍa is the powerful elephant stationed at the entrance of Kaṁsa’s arena, set there as a deadly obstacle for Kṛṣṇa.

Why was Kuvalayāpīḍa placed at the wrestling arena gate in Mathurā?

Kaṁsa arranged the elephant at the gate as part of his plot to kill Kṛṣṇa before He could enter the arena, and the mahout Ambāṣṭha provoked the elephant to attack.

What practical lesson does this verse teach devotees today?

Even when danger is deliberately arranged, the Lord remains fully aware and in control—encouraging devotees to rely on Kṛṣṇa’s protection while moving forward in dharma.