Shloka 8
Balarāma Humbles the Kurus and Rescues Sāmba
सोऽपविद्ध: कुरुश्रेष्ठ कुरुभिर्यदुनन्दन: । नामृष्यत्तदचिन्त्यार्भ: सिंह क्षुद्रमृगैरिव ॥ ८ ॥
so ’paviddhaḥ kuru-śreṣṭha kurubhir yadu-nandanaḥ nāmṛṣyat tad acintyārbhaḥ siṁha kṣudra-mṛgair iva
O best of the Kurus, when the Kurus unjustly harassed Sāmba, the son of Kṛṣṇa, that beloved of the Yadu line did not tolerate their assault, just as a lion does not endure the attack of petty beasts.
Commenting on the word acintyārbha, Śrīla Prabhupāda writes in Kṛṣṇa: “Sāmba, the glorious son of the Yadu dynasty, [was] endowed with inconceivable potencies as the son of Lord Kṛṣṇa.”
FAQs
This verse shows that Balarāma did not accept unjust contempt; like a lion unmoved by lesser creatures, he remained powerful and principled, indicating that dharmic strength may require firm response rather than passive endurance.
In the narrative context of Canto 10, political rivalry and pride among royal dynasties lead the Kurus to slight the Yadu leader (Balarāma), provoking a dharmic confrontation.
Maintain inner dignity when criticized, but do not normalize injustice—respond with calm strength, clear boundaries, and principled action rather than reactive anger.