Shloka 24
The Killing of Cāṇūra, Muṣṭika, and Kaṁsa; Liberation and Restoration of Dharma in Mathurā
तथैव मुष्टिक: पूर्वं स्वमुष्ट्याभिहतेन वै । बलभद्रेण बलिना तलेनाभिहतो भृशम् ॥ २४ ॥ प्रवेपित: स रुधिरमुद्वमन् मुखतोऽर्दित: । व्यसु: पपातोर्व्युपस्थे वाताहत इवाङ्घ्रिप: ॥ २५ ॥
tathaiva muṣṭikaḥ pūrvaṁ sva-muṣṭyābhihatena vai balabhadreṇa balinā talenābhihato bhṛśam
Similarly, Muṣṭika first struck Lord Balabhadra with his fist; but, smashed by the mighty Śrī Balarāma’s palm, he trembled in agony, spewed blood from his mouth, and fell lifeless to the ground like a tree felled by the wind.
FAQs
Bhāgavatam 10.44.24 states that Balabhadra (Balarāma), though attacked first, struck Muṣṭika forcefully with His palm, demonstrating divine strength used to protect dharma.
Kaṁsa arranged the wrestling match to kill Kṛṣṇa and Balarāma publicly; the Lord’s party accepted the challenge to end Kaṁsa’s oppression and uphold righteousness.
It teaches disciplined strength: power should be guided by dharma—used to resist injustice and protect the innocent, not for ego or cruelty.