Shloka 49

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

Devanagari script

श्रीशुक उवाच राजयोषित आश्वास्य भगवाँल्लोकभावन: । यामाहुर्लौकिकीं संस्थां हतानां समकारयत् ॥ ४९ ॥

Transliteration

śrī-śuka uvāca rāja-yoṣita āśvāsya bhagavāḻ loka-bhāvanaḥ yām āhur laukikīṁ saṁsthāṁ hatānāṁ samakārayat

Translation

Śukadeva Gosvāmī said: After consoling the royal ladies, Lord Kṛṣṇa, the sustainer of all worlds, arranged that the prescribed funeral rites be duly performed for the slain.

Synonyms

• श्री-शुकः: Śrī Śuka
• श्री-शुकः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: श्रीशुक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—कर्मधारय (श्रीः शुकः)

• उवाच: said
• उवाच: Kriya (क्रिया/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: वच् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• राज-योषितः: the royal women
• राज-योषितः: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् + योषित् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), बहुवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (राज्ञां योषितः)

• आश्वास्य: having consoled
• आश्वास्य: Kriya-viseshana (क्रियाविशेषण/Converb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-श्वस् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (Absolutive/Gerund), अव्ययभाव; ‘having consoled’

• भगवान्: the Blessed Lord
• भगवान्: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भगवत् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन

• लोक-भावनः: nourisher of the world
• लोक-भावनः: Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: लोक + भावन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/Nominative), एकवचन; समासः—षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (लोकस्य भावनः)

• याम्: which
• याम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: यद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; सम्बन्ध/यत्-तत्

• आहुः: they call
• आहुः: Kriya (क्रिया/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: अह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), बहुवचन; परस्मैपद

• लौकिकीम्: worldly, customary
• लौकिकीम्: Visheshana (विशेषण/Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: लौकिकी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन; विशेषणम् (संस्थाम्)

• संस्थाम्: funeral rite/last rites
• संस्थाम्: Karma (कर्म/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: संस्था (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/Accusative), एकवचन

• हतानाम्: of the slain
• हतानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Verb
• Root: हन् (धातु)
• Form: क्त (Past Passive Participle) ‘हत’ as adjective; षष्ठी (6th/Genitive), बहुवचन; पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग (सामान्य)

• समकारयत्: had performed/caused to be performed
• समकारयत्: Kriya (क्रिया/Finite verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम् + कृ (धातु)
• Form: लङ् (Imperfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; causative (णिच्) भावः—‘caused to be done’

Characters & Entities

• Śukadeva Gosvāmī
• Bhagavān (Śrī Kṛṣṇa)
• Royal ladies (queens of Kaṁsa’s court)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about performing funeral rites (antyeṣṭi) for the slain?

This verse states that Kṛṣṇa arranged the customary worldly final rites for those who were killed, showing that dharmic duties like proper last rites are honored even after conflict.

Why did Krishna console the royal women after killing Kamsa?

After Kaṁsa’s death, the palace women were grieving; Kṛṣṇa, described here as the well-wisher of all worlds, first comforted them and then ensured proper rites—uniting compassion with dharma.

How can this shloka be applied in modern life?

Even when justice is served, one should remain humane—comfort the bereaved and fulfill necessary duties with dignity, restraint, and respect for tradition.