Shloka 43

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

Devanagari script

तेषां स्त्रियो महाराज सुहृन्मरणदु:खिता: । तत्राभीयुर्विनिघ्नन्त्य: शीर्षाण्यश्रुविलोचना: ॥ ४३ ॥

Transliteration

teṣāṁ striyo mahā-rāja suhṛn-maraṇa-duḥkhitāḥ tatrābhīyur vinighnantyaḥ śīrṣāṇy aśru-vilocanāḥ

Translation

O King, the wives of Kaṁsa and his brothers, anguished by the death of their well-wishing husbands, came forward with tear-filled eyes, beating their heads in grief.

Synonyms

• तेषाम्: of them
• तेषाम्: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• स्त्रियः: women
• स्त्रियः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: स्त्री (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• महा-राज: O great king
• महा-राज: सम्बोधन (Address)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महत् (प्रातिपदिक) + राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: कर्मधारय: महान् राजा; पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन

• सुहृत्-मरण-दुःखिताः: grieved by the death of their loved ones
• सुहृत्-मरण-दुःखिताः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Qualifier of agent)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: सुहृत् (प्रातिपदिक) + मरण (प्रातिपदिक) + दुःखित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (determinative chain): सुहृदां मरणेन दुःखिताः; स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (स्त्रियः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)

• तत्र: there
• तत्र: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तत्र (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; देशवाचक क्रियाविशेषण (locative adverb ‘there’)

• अभि-ईयुः: they came toward/approached
• अभि-ईयुः: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: इ (धातु) + अभि (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), परस्मैपद; प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन

• विनिघ्नन्त्यः: striking (their)
• विनिघ्नन्त्यः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Agentive participle)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु) + वि (उपसर्ग) + नि (उपसर्ग)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (शतृ) स्त्रीलिङ्ग; प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (स्त्रियः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)

• शीर्षाणि: heads
• शीर्षाणि: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: शीर्षन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• अश्रु-विलोचनाः: tear-eyed
• अश्रु-विलोचनाः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Qualifier of agent)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अश्रु (प्रातिपदिक) + विलोचन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: बहुव्रीहि: अश्रूणि विलोचने यस्याः (whose eyes are with tears); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (स्त्रियः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)

Characters & Entities

• Mahārāja Parīkṣit

FAQs

What does Srimad Bhagavatam say about grief after the death of loved ones?

This verse depicts natural human grief—tearful lamentation and self-striking—showing how deep attachment brings sorrow when death occurs, even amid Kṛṣṇa’s divine pastimes.

Why are the women described as striking their heads in Srimad Bhagavatam 10.44.43?

It is a traditional sign of intense mourning: having lost their husbands or relatives in the arena, they rush in and express unbearable grief through such gestures.

How can this Bhagavatam verse be applied in modern life?

It reminds us that worldly relationships, though precious, are temporary; cultivating devotion and spiritual perspective helps one face loss with steadiness and remembrance of the Lord.