Shloka 11

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

Devanagari script

वल्गत: शत्रुमभित: कृष्णस्य वदनाम्बुजम् । वीक्ष्यतां श्रमवार्युप्तं पद्मकोशमिवाम्बुभि: ॥ ११ ॥

Transliteration

valgataḥ śatrum abhitaḥ kṛṣṇasya vadanāmbujam vīkṣyatāṁ śrama-vāry-uptaṁ padma-kośam ivāmbubhiḥ

Translation

Behold Kṛṣṇa’s lotus face as He darts about His foe! Covered with beads of sweat born of strenuous combat, it shines like a lotus bud bathed in dew.

Synonyms

• वल्गतः: from (the) leaping about
• वल्गतः: Apadana (अपादान/Source)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वल्गत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी (5th/Ablative), एकवचन; अव्ययीभावे ‘from/than (one) leaping about’ (comparative sense)

• शत्रुम्: enemy
• शत्रुम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शत्रु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• अभितः: around
• अभितः: Adhikarana (अधिकरण/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अभितः (अव्यय)
• Form: परितोऽर्थक-अव्यय (adverb/preposition)

• कृष्णस्य: of Krishna
• कृष्णस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• वदनाम्बुजम्: lotus-like face
• वदनाम्बुजम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: वदन-अम्बुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (अम्बुजम् इव वदनम्)

• वीक्ष्यताम्: behold (you all)
• वीक्ष्यताम्: Kriya (क्रिया/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वीक्ष् (धातु)
• Form: लोट् (Imperative), मध्यमपुरुष (2nd person), बहुवचन; आत्मनेपद (passive/impersonal nuance: ‘let it be seen’/‘behold!’)

• श्रमवार्युप्तम्: sprinkled with sweat
• श्रमवार्युप्तम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: श्रम-वारि-उप्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तृतीया-तत्पुरुषः (श्रमवारिणा उप्तम् = sprinkled with sweat-water); ‘उप्त’ = उप् (धातु) क्त (past participle)

• पद्मकोशम्: lotus-bud
• पद्मकोशम्: Upamana (उपमान/Standard of comparison)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पद्म-कोश (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (पद्मस्य कोशः)

• इव: like
• इव: Upama (उपमा/Comparison marker)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: इव (अव्यय)
• Form: उपमा-निपात (comparative particle)

• अम्बुभिः: with waters
• अम्बुभिः: Karana (करण/Instrument)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अम्बु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/Instrumental), बहुवचन

Characters & Entities

• Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about seeing Krishna’s lotus face during His pastimes?

This verse describes Kṛṣṇa’s face as a lotus, made even more beautiful by the sweat of exertion, showing that His humanlike pastimes intensify devotees’ loving vision (darśana) rather than diminish His divinity.

Why is Krishna compared to a lotus bud sprinkled with water in Canto 10?

The comparison highlights tenderness and beauty: just as water droplets enhance a lotus bud’s charm, Kṛṣṇa’s perspiration in battle enhances the sweetness of His form for the onlookers.

Practical application of this shloka in modern life?

Train the mind to see the Lord’s presence even in effort and struggle—remembering Kṛṣṇa while working hard can turn exertion into devotion and deepen one’s appreciation of divine beauty.