Shloka 38
The Killing of Cāṇūra, Muṣṭika, and Kaṁsa; Liberation and Restoration of Dharma in Mathurā
तं सम्परेतं विचकर्ष भूमौहरिर्यथेभं जगतो विपश्यत: । हाहेति शब्द: सुमहांस्तदाभू-दुदीरित: सर्वजनैर्नरेन्द्र ॥ ३८ ॥
taṁ samparetaṁ vicakarṣa bhūmau harir yathebhaṁ jagato vipaśyataḥ hā heti śabdaḥ su-mahāṁs tadābhūd udīritaḥ sarva-janair narendra
Before everyone’s eyes, the Lord Hari dragged Kaṁsa’s lifeless body across the ground like a lion dragging a dead elephant. O King, the entire arena erupted with a great cry: “Ha! Ha!”
Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī explains that many people in the audience thought Kaṁsa had simply been knocked unconscious when thrown from the lofty dais. Therefore Lord Kṛṣṇa dragged his corpse so everyone would realize that the evil King was indeed dead. Thus the exclamation hā hā indicates how surprised the people were that the King was suddenly dead and gone.
FAQs
In Canto 10, Chapter 44, the Bhagavatam narrates that Kṛṣṇa slays Kaṁsa and even drags his lifeless body publicly, demonstrating the complete defeat of adharma and the protection of the oppressed.
As the verse states, the people watching let out a great cry of “alas,” reflecting shock and intense emotion at the dramatic, public end of the tyrant—an event that overturned the atmosphere of fear in Mathurā.
It reminds us that injustice and cruelty are not permanent; steadfast faith and alignment with dharma give courage, and tyranny—however powerful—ultimately falls when truth prevails.