Shloka 18

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

Devanagari script

सभया: स्त्रीगिर: श्रुत्वा पुत्रस्‍नेहशुचातुरौ । पितरावन्वतप्येतां पुत्रयोरबुधौ बलम् ॥ १८ ॥

Transliteration

sa-bhayāḥ strī-giraḥ śrutvā putra-sneha-śucāturau pitarāv anvatapyetāṁ putrayor abudhau balam

Translation

Hearing the women’s fearful words, Vasudeva and Devakī, distressed by love for their sons, were overwhelmed with sorrow. Not knowing the true strength of their two Sons, they grieved deeply.

Synonyms

• sa-bhayāḥ: fearful
• sa-bhayāḥ: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: sa (अव्यय) + bhaya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन; बहुव्रीहि ('having fear/afraid')

• strī-giraḥ: the words of the women
• strī-giraḥ: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: strī (प्रातिपदिक) + gir (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष ('words of women')

• śrutvā: having heard
• śrutvā: Pūrvakāla-kriyā (पूर्वकाल-क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: śru (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (Gerund), 'having heard'

• putra-sneha-śuca-āturau: distressed with grief from love for their son
• putra-sneha-śuca-āturau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक) + sneha (प्रातिपदिक) + śuca (प्रातिपदिक) + ātura (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (Dual); तत्पुरुष (complex determinative: 'distressed by grief due to affection for (their) son')

• pitarau: the two fathers (parents)
• pitarau: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pitṛ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन (Dual)

• anvatapyetām: were pained/afflicted
• anvatapyetām: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: anu-tap (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन (Dual)

• putrayoḥ: of the two sons
• putrayoḥ: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: putra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive/6th), द्विवचन (Dual)

• abudhau: not knowing
• abudhau: Viśeṣaṇa (विशेषण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: a-budha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, द्विवचन; नञ्-प्रत्यय (not knowing/ignorant)

• balam: the power/strength
• balam: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: bala (प्रातिपदik)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative/2nd), एकवचन

Purport

Naturally, Kṛṣṇa’s parents would lament in this situation, thinking “Why didn’t we keep our sons at home? Why did we allow Them to participate in this corrupt exhibition?”

Characters & Entities

• Nanda Mahārāja
• Vasudeva
• Kṛṣṇa
• Balarāma
• women in the assembly (Mathurā)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about parental affection (vatsalya) covering awareness of Krishna’s divinity?

This verse shows that even devoted parents, overwhelmed by love and worry, may not recognize the Lord’s full power, illustrating how intimate bhakti can veil majesty (aiśvarya) with sweetness (mādhurya).

Why did Nanda and Vasudeva lament after hearing the women in the assembly?

The women feared for the boys’ safety during the wrestling arena events, and hearing this, the parents—moved by deep affection—grieved because they did not fully know the extraordinary strength of Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma.

How can this teaching be applied in modern life when we feel anxious for loved ones?

It reminds us that love naturally brings worry, but faith grows by remembering the higher protection of the Divine and not letting fear eclipse trust and steadiness in duty.