Shloka 42

Rājasūya: Agrapūjā for Kṛṣṇa and the Slaying (and Liberation) of Śiśupāla

Devanagari script

ततश्चैद्यस्त्वसम्भ्रान्तो जगृहे खड्‍गचर्मणी । भर्त्सयन् कृष्णपक्षीयान् राज्ञ: सदसि भारत ॥ ४२ ॥

Transliteration

tataś caidyas tv asambhrānto jagṛhe khaḍga-carmaṇī bhartsayan kṛṣṇa-pakṣīyān rājñaḥ sadasi bhārata

Translation

Then Śiśupāla of Cedi, undaunted, seized his sword and shield. O Bhārata, in the midst of the kings’ assembly he hurled insults at those who stood on the side of Lord Kṛṣṇa.

Synonyms

• ततः: then
• ततः: क्रियाविशेषण (Adverbial)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: ततः (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय, क्रमवाचक-क्रियाविशेषण (then)

• चैद्यः: the Caidya (Śiśupāla)
• चैद्यः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चैद्य (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, एकवचन; (Śiśupāla, king of Cedi)

• तु: but
• तु: सम्बन्ध (Particle)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: विरोध/विशेषार्थक-निपात (particle: but/indeed)

• असम्भ्रान्तः: unconfused, unshaken
• असम्भ्रान्तः: विशेषण (Viśeṣaṇa)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अ + सम्भ्रान्त (प्रातिपदिक; √भ्रम् से क्त)
• Form: नञ्-समास (negated), भूतकृदन्त (PPP/क्त); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘unperturbed’

• जगृहे: took, seized
• जगृहे: क्रिया (Kriyā/Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd), एकवचन

• खड्ग-चर्मणी: the sword and shield
• खड्ग-चर्मणी: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: खड्ग + चर्मन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व (pair) ‘sword and shield/leather’; नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc./2nd), द्विवचन (Dual)

• भर्त्सयन्: rebuking
• भर्त्सयन्: कर्ता (Karta/Agent)
• Type: Verb
• Root: भर्त्स् (धातु)
• Form: वर्तमान-कृदन्त (Present active participle/शतृ), परस्मैपदी, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; ‘rebuking’

• कृष्ण-पक्षीयान्: those siding with Kṛṣṇa
• कृष्ण-पक्षीयान्: कर्म (Karma/Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कृष्ण + पक्षीय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (determinative) ‘on Kṛṣṇa’s side’; पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Acc./2nd), बहुवचन

• राज्ञः: of the king
• राज्ञः: सम्बन्ध (Sambandha/Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: राजन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Gen./6th), एकवचन

• सदसि: in the assembly
• सदसि: अधिकरण (Adhikaraṇa/Location)
• Type: Noun
• Root: सदस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative/7th), एकवचन

• भारत: O Bhārata
• भारत: सम्बोधन (Sambodhana/Vocative)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भारत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, सम्बोधन-विभक्ति (Vocative), एकवचन; संबोधन (address)

Characters & Entities

• Śiśupāla
• Kṛṣṇa
• Parīkṣit Mahārāja

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about offending Krishna’s devotees?

This verse shows Śiśupāla openly abusing Kṛṣṇa’s supporters; in the Bhagavatam narrative, such deliberate offense (aparādha) hardens envy and leads to ruin, even when done before saintly and royal audiences.

Why did Śiśupāla take up a sword and shield in the Rajasuya assembly?

After repeatedly insulting Kṛṣṇa and being opposed by the pro-Kṛṣṇa kings, Śiśupāla escalated from harsh words to violence, seizing weapons right in the royal assembly.

Practical application: how should a devotee respond when criticized in public?

The verse contrasts agitation and composure: rather than escalating like Śiśupāla, a devotee can avoid reactive speech, stay steady, and choose responses aligned with dharma and devotion.