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Shloka 4

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

परिभ्रामणविक्षेपपरिरम्भावपातनै: । उत्सर्पणापसर्पणैश्चान्योन्यं प्रत्यरुन्धताम् ॥ ४ ॥

paribhrāmaṇa-vikṣepa- parirambhāvapātanaiḥ utsarpaṇāpasarpaṇaiś cānyonyaṁ pratyarundhatām

The two fighters vied with one another—whirling the other in circles, shoving and crushing, hurling him down, and running before and behind to block his every move.

परिभ्रामणby circling/whirling about
परिभ्रामण:
Karana (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootपरिभ्रामण (प्रातिपदिक; √भ्रम् धातु-निष्पन्न)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; instrumental plural (by/with)
विक्षेपby throwing/jerking aside
विक्षेप:
Karana (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootविक्षेप (प्रातिपदिक; √क्षिप् धातु-निष्पन्न)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; instrumental plural
परिरम्भby embracing/grappling
परिरम्भ:
Karana (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootपरिरम्भ (प्रातिपदिक; √रभ्/√रम्भ् धातु-निष्पन्न)
Formपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (प्रयोगे), तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; instrumental plural
अवपातनैःby knocking down/throwing down
अवपातनैः:
Karana (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootअवपातन (प्रातिपदिक; √पत् धातु-निष्पन्न)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; instrumental plural
उत्सर्पणby advancing/pressing forward
उत्सर्पण:
Karana (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootउत्सर्पण (प्रातिपदिक; √सृप् धातु-निष्पन्न)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; instrumental plural
अपसर्पणैःby retreating/withdrawing
अपसर्पणैः:
Karana (करण)
TypeNoun
Rootअपसर्पण (प्रातिपदिक; √सृप् धातु-निष्पन्न)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, तृतीया (करण), बहुवचन; instrumental plural
and
:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/समुच्चय)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootच (अव्यय)
Formसमुच्चयार्थक-अव्यय; conjunction ‘and’
अन्योन्यम्each other
अन्योन्यम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootअन्योन्य (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (कर्म), एकवचन; adverbial accusative ‘each other’
प्रतिagainst
प्रति:
Upasarga (उपसर्ग)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootप्रति (अव्यय)
Formउपसर्ग/अव्यय; preverb ‘against/towards’ (here with verb)
अरुन्धताम्(they two) obstructed/checked
अरुन्धताम्:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√रुध् (धातु)
Formलङ्-लकार (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष, द्विवचन; parasmaipada; ‘they two checked/obstructed’

Śrīla Śrīdhara Svāmī explains that the word parirambha indicates crushing one’s opponent with one’s arms.

K
Kṛṣṇa
C
Caṇūra
M
Muṣṭika

FAQs

This verse portrays the intense, skillful exchanges—whirling, clinching, throwing, advancing and retreating—by which Kṛṣṇa and His opponent tried to restrain and overpower each other in the arena.

He is narrating to King Parīkṣit the dramatic unfolding of Kṛṣṇa’s Mathurā līlā, showing how Kṛṣṇa met the wrestlers’ challenge in a fully human-like contest while remaining the Supreme Lord.

Even in conflict or competition, steadiness, strategy, and self-control—knowing when to advance, hold, or withdraw—help one act effectively without losing inner composure.