Shloka 27

Kṛṣṇa Slays Kuvalayāpīḍa and Enters Kaṁsa’s Wrestling Arena

Devanagari script

गाव: सपाला एतेन दावाग्ने: परिमोचिता: । कालियो दमित: सर्प इन्द्रश्च विमद: कृत: ॥ २६ ॥ सप्ताहमेकहस्तेन धृतोऽद्रिप्रवरोऽमुना । वर्षवाताशनिभ्यश्च परित्रातं च गोकुलम् ॥ २७ ॥

Transliteration

gāvaḥ sa-pālā etena dāvāgneḥ parimocitāḥ kāliyo damitaḥ sarpa indraś ca vimadaḥ kṛtaḥ

Translation

He saved the cows and cowherds from a forest fire, subdued the serpent Kāliya, and humbled Indra’s false pride. With one hand He held aloft the best of mountains for seven days, protecting Gokula from rain, wind, and hail.

Synonyms

• saptāham: for a week
• saptāham: Kāla-adhikaraṇa (कालाधिकरण/extent of time)
• Type: Noun
• Root: saptāha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Tatpuruṣa ‘seven-days’ (week); Masculine, Accusative (द्वितीया/2), Singular; duration (कालपरिमाण)

• eka-hastena: with one hand
• eka-hastena: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: eka (प्रातिपदिक) + hasta (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya ‘one hand’; Masculine, Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular

• dhṛtaḥ: was held
• dhṛtaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: dhṛ (धातु) + dhṛta (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine Nominative Singular; from √dhṛ (धृ) ‘to hold’

• adri-pravaraḥ: the foremost mountain (Govardhana)
• adri-pravaraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adri (प्रातिपदिक) + pravara (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Karmadhāraya ‘the best of mountains’; Masculine, Nominative Singular

• amunā: by him (that one)
• amunā: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: adas (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Sarvanāma (सर्वनाम), Masculine/Neuter, Instrumental (तृतीया/3), Singular

• varṣa-vāta-aśanibhyaḥ: from rain, wind, and thunderbolts
• varṣa-vāta-aśanibhyaḥ: Apādāna (अपादान)
• Type: Noun
• Root: varṣa (प्रातिपदिक) + vāta (प्रातिपदिक) + aśani (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Dvandva (समाहार/इतरेतर) ‘rain, wind, and thunderbolts’; Ablative (पञ्चमी/5), Plural (बहुवचन)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• paritrātam: was protected
• paritrātam: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: trā (धातु) + pari- (उपसर्ग) + paritrāta (कृदन्त)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Neuter, Nominative/Accusative Singular; here predicate with gokulam (neuter)

• ca: and
• ca: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ca (अव्यय)
• Form: Conjunction

• gokulam: Gokula
• gokulam: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: gokula (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Nominative (प्रथमा/1), Singular

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Kāliya
• Indra
• Gopas (cowherds)
• Gāvaḥ (cows)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna protecting the cows and cowherds?

This verse states that Śrī Kṛṣṇa delivered the cows and their keepers from the danger of a forest fire, showing His role as the supreme protector of Vraja.

Why is Indra mentioned along with Kāliya in this verse?

Śukadeva links these events to show Kṛṣṇa’s supremacy: He subdues external threats like Kāliya and also corrects the inner threat of pride, even in powerful devas like Indra.

Practical application of Krishna humbling pride in modern life?

The verse teaches that spiritual growth requires humility—power, status, or achievement should be offered in service, not used for ego.