Shloka 1

The Killing of Cāṇūra, Muṣṭika, and Kaṁsa; Liberation and Restoration of Dharma in Mathurā

Devanagari script

श्रीशुक उवाच एवं चर्चितसङ्कल्पो भगवान् मधुसूदन: । आससादाथ चाणूरं मुष्टिकं रोहिणीसुत: ॥ १ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-śuka uvāca evaṁ carcita-saṅkalpo bhagavān madhusūdanaḥ āsasādātha caṇūraṁ muṣṭtikaṁ rohiṇī-sutaḥ

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: Thus addressed, Lord Madhusūdana resolved to accept the challenge. He faced Cāṇūra, and Balarāma, the son of Rohiṇī, faced Muṣṭika.

Synonyms

• श्री-शुकः: Śrī Śuka
• श्री-शुकः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्री (प्रातिपदिक) + शुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारय-समासः (श्रीमान् शुकः)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: प्रकारवाचक-अव्यय (adverb: thus)

• चर्चित-सङ्कल्पः: whose resolve was made/formed
• चर्चित-सङ्कल्पः: Visheshana (विशेषण of भगवान्)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: चर्चित (चर्/चर्च् धातु; क्त कृदन्त) + सङ्कल्प (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुषभावः (चर्चितः सङ्कल्पः यस्य)

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मधुसूदनः: slayer of Madhu
• मधुसूदनः: Apposition (समनाधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधु (प्रातिपदिक) + सूदन (सूद् धातु; प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (मधोः सूदनः)

• आससाद: approached
• आससाद: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सद् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन, परस्मैपद; उपसर्ग-आ (approached)

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Sequencing)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अनन्तरार्थक-अव्यय (then)

• चाणूरम्: Cāṇūra
• चाणूरम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चाणूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• मुष्टिकम्: Muṣṭika
• मुष्टिकम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुष्टिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन

• रोहिणी-सुतः: son of Rohiṇī (Balarāma)
• रोहिणी-सुतः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject; apposition to भगवान्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रोहिणी (प्रातिपदिक) + सुत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (रोहिण्याः सुतः)

Characters & Entities

• Śukadeva Gosvāmī
• Krishna (Madhusūdana)
• Balarāma (Rohiṇī-suta)
• Cāṇūra
• Muṣṭika

FAQs

What happens in Srimad Bhagavatam 10.44.1?

Śukadeva describes Krishna advancing to wrestle Cāṇūra while Balarāma simultaneously approaches Muṣṭika, marking the start of the decisive confrontation in Kaṁsa’s arena.

Why is Krishna called Madhusūdana in this verse?

The name Madhusūdana highlights Krishna’s divine identity as the destroyer of demonic forces, indicating that His wrestling is not ordinary sport but the Lord’s purposeful removal of adharma.

What is a practical lesson from Krishna and Balarama approaching their opponents?

Act with steady resolve in the face of intimidation—grounded in dharma and faith—just as the Lord and His brother proceed fearlessly to confront wrongdoing.