Shloka 6
Kṛṣṇa Slays Kuvalayāpīḍa and Enters Kaṁsa’s Wrestling Arena
करीन्द्रस्तमभिद्रुत्य करेण तरसाग्रहीत् । कराद्विगलित: सोऽमुं निहत्याङ्घ्रिष्वलीयत ॥ ६ ॥
karīndras tam abhidrutya kareṇa tarasāgrahīt karād vigalitaḥ so ’muṁ nihatyāṅghriṣv alīyata
The lord of the elephants charged at Kṛṣṇa and violently seized Him with his trunk. But Kṛṣṇa slipped free, struck him a blow, and vanished from his sight among his legs.
Lord Kṛṣṇa struck the elephant with His fist and then disappeared among his legs.
FAQs
In Canto 10, Chapter 43, this verse describes how the elephant rushed and grabbed Kṛṣṇa with its trunk, but Kṛṣṇa slipped free, killed it, and calmly placed His foot upon it—showing His effortless supremacy.
Kaṁsa arranged deadly obstacles to stop Kṛṣṇa from entering the arena; the fierce elephant at the gate was meant to kill Him, but it instead became another display of Kṛṣṇa’s divine power.
The verse teaches steadiness and faith: even when danger “rushes at us,” taking shelter of Kṛṣṇa and acting with clarity helps one overcome fear and remain composed.