Shloka 23

Kṛṣṇa Slays Kuvalayāpīḍa and Enters Kaṁsa’s Wrestling Arena

Devanagari script

एतौ भगवत: साक्षाद्धरेर्नारायणस्य हि । अवतीर्णाविहांशेन वसुदेवस्य वेश्मनि ॥ २३ ॥

Transliteration

etau bhagavataḥ sākṣād dharer nārāyaṇasya hi avatīrṇāv ihāṁśena vasudevasya veśmani

Translation

[The people said:] These two boys are surely expansions of the Supreme Lord Hari-Nārāyaṇa Himself, descended into this world within the home of Vasudeva.

Synonyms

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

• bhagavataḥ: of the Lord
• bhagavataḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)

• sākṣāt: directly
• sākṣāt: Kriyā-viśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: sākṣāt (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb (क्रियाविशेषण) meaning ‘directly/manifestly’

• hareḥ: of Hari
• hareḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: hari (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)

• nārāyaṇasya: of Nārāyaṇa
• nārāyaṇasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: nārāyaṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)

• hi: indeed
• hi: Nipāta (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, emphatic/causal particle (निपात)

• avatīrṇau: descended
• avatīrṇau: Karta (कर्ता) (predicate of etau)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: ava-tīrṇa (प्रातिपदिक; √tṝ-क्त)
• Form: Past participle (क्त) from √tṝ with prefix ava- ‘to descend’; Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Dual (द्विवचन)

• iha: here
• iha: Deśa-adhikaraṇa (देश-अधिकरण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: iha (अव्यय)
• Form: Avyaya, adverb of place (देशवाचक-अव्यय)

• aṁśena: by a portion (partial expansion)
• aṁśena: Karaṇa (करण) / Hetu (हेतु)
• Type: Noun
• Root: aṁśa (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular (एकवचन)

• vasudevasya: of Vasudeva
• vasudevasya: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: vasudeva (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Genitive (षष्ठी/6), Singular (एकवचन)

• veśmani: in the house
• veśmani: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: veśman (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Locative (सप्तमी/7), Singular (एकवचन)

Characters & Entities

• Hari
• Nārāyaṇa
• Vasudeva

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna being Narayana?

This verse states that the two brothers are directly the Supreme Lord—Hari, Nārāyaṇa—who has descended to earth by His own expansion, affirming their divine identity.

Why does Shukadeva Goswami describe Krishna and Balarama as Hari and Narayana in Canto 10?

In the narrative surrounding Kaṁsa’s downfall, Śukadeva clarifies to Parīkṣit that the apparent human actors are actually the Supreme Lord’s descent, so the listener understands the līlā as divine intervention, not ordinary history.

Practical application of remembering Krishna as the Supreme Lord in modern life?

Seeing Kṛṣṇa as Hari-Nārāyaṇa strengthens śraddhā (faith) and devotion, helping one rely on divine guidance, cultivate humility, and approach challenges with remembrance and surrender.