Shloka 20

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

Devanagari script

भगवद्गात्रनिष्पातैर्वज्रनीष्पेषनिष्ठुरै: । चाणूरो भज्यमानाङ्गो मुहुर्ग्लानिमवाप ह ॥ २० ॥

Transliteration

bhagavad-gātra-niṣpātair vajra-nīṣpeṣa-niṣṭhuraiḥ cāṇūro bhajyamānāṅgo muhur glānim avāpa ha

Translation

The crushing, lightning-like blows from the Supreme Lord’s limbs shattered Cāṇūra’s body, and again and again he was overcome by pain and exhaustion.

Synonyms

• भगवत्-गात्र-निष्पातैः: by the impacts of the Lord’s limbs
• भगवत्-गात्र-निष्पातैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक) + गात्र (प्रातिपदिक) + निष्पात (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; Instrumental plural; समासः षष्ठी-तत्पुरुषः (भगवतः गात्राणां निष्पाताः)

• वज्र-नीष्पेष-निष्ठुरैः: harsh like a thunderbolt’s crushing
• वज्र-नीष्पेष-निष्ठुरैः: Karana (करण)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: वज्र (प्रातिपदिक) + नीष्पेष (प्रातिपदिक) + निष्ठुर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, तृतीया, बहुवचन; Instrumental plural; विशेषणम् (निष्पातैः); समासः कर्मधारय/तत्पुरुष-प्रायः—‘वज्र-नीष्पेषवत् निष्ठुर’

• चाणूरः: Cāṇūra
• चाणूरः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चाणूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular

• भज्यमान-अङ्गः: whose limbs were being broken
• भज्यमान-अङ्गः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भञ्ज् (धातु) → भज्यमान (कृदन्त) + अङ्ग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; Nominative singular; वर्तमानकाले कर्मणि-प्रयोगे शानच्-प्रत्ययान्त कृदन्त (भज्यमान = being broken); बहुव्रीहिः ‘भज्यमानानि अङ्गानि यस्य’

• मुहुः: repeatedly
• मुहुः: Kriya-vishesana (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: मुहुः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; कालवाचक क्रियाविशेषण; adverb ‘again and again’

• ग्लानिम्: fatigue, exhaustion
• ग्लानिम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ग्लानि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; Accusative singular

• अवाप: attained, experienced
• अवाप: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आप् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्, परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; Perfect, 3rd person singular, active

• ह: indeed (emphatic particle)
• ह: Nipata (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ह (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात (पादपूरण/वाक्यालङ्कार)

Purport

Cāṇūra’s elbows, arms, knees and other limbs were all weakening.

Characters & Entities

• Bhagavān Śrī Kṛṣṇa
• Cāṇūra

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna’s power in the Chanura fight?

This verse describes Kṛṣṇa’s blows as thunderbolt-like—so forceful that Cāṇūra repeatedly becomes exhausted as his body is battered by the Lord’s limbs.

Why is Cāṇūra becoming weak while fighting Krishna in Canto 10 Chapter 44?

Because Kṛṣṇa’s repeated strikes are overwhelming and divinely potent; the wrestler’s limbs are being broken down, leading to recurring fatigue and loss of strength.

Practical application of this verse in modern life?

It reminds a seeker that arrogance and aggression collapse before divine truth; steady devotion and alignment with dharma ultimately outlast brute force.