Previous Verse
Next Verse

Shloka 33

Kṛṣṇa Kills Dantavakra; Balarāma’s Pilgrimage and the Slaying of Romaharṣaṇa

श्रीभगवानुवाच चरिष्ये वधनिर्वेशं लोकानुग्रहकाम्यया । नियम: प्रथमे कल्पे यावान् स तु विधीयताम् ॥ ३३ ॥

śrī-bhagavān uvāca cariṣye vadha-nirveśaṁ lokānugraha-kāmyayā niyamaḥ prathame kalpe yāvān sa tu vidhīyatām

The Personality of Godhead said: I will certainly perform the atonement for this killing, since I wish to show compassion to the people in general. Please, therefore, prescribe for Me whatever ritual is to be done first.

śrī-bhagavānthe Blessed Lord
śrī-bhagavān:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootśrī-bhagavat (प्रातिपदिक)
Formकर्मधारय (‘glorious’ + ‘Lord’); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन
uvācasaid
uvāca:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√vac (धातु)
Formलिट् (perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद
cariṣyeI shall perform
cariṣye:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√car (धातु)
Formलृट् (simple future), उत्तमपुरुष (1st), एकवचन; आत्मनेपद
vadha-nirveśamatonement for killing
vadha-nirveśam:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootvadha-nirveśa (प्रातिपदिक)
Formतत्पुरुष (determinative: ‘killing’ + ‘expiation/atonement’); पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन
lokānugraha-kāmyayāwith the desire to benefit the world
lokānugraha-kāmyayā:
Hetu (हेतु/प्रयोजन)
TypeNoun
Rootloka-anugraha-kāmya (प्रातिपदिक)
Formतत्पुरुष-समास (determinative chain: ‘world’ + ‘favor’ + ‘desire’); स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया (3rd/instrumental), एकवचन; हेतौ (in the sense of purpose)
niyamaḥthe rule; injunction
niyamaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootniyama (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन
prathamein the first
prathame:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeAdjective
Rootprathama (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/locative), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifies kalpe)
kalpein the kalpa/aeon
kalpe:
Adhikarana (अधिकरण)
TypeNoun
Rootkalpa (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, सप्तमी (7th/locative), एकवचन
yāvānas much as; of such extent
yāvān:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeAdjective
Rootyāvat (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; परिमाणवाचक (relative quantitative)
saḥthat
saḥ:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन; संकेत (demonstrative)
tuindeed; but
tu:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/particle)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottu (अव्यय)
Formविरोध/अन्वय (particle: ‘but/indeed’)
vidhīyatāmlet it be ordained
vidhīyatām:
Kriya (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√dhā (धातु)
Formलोट् (imperative), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; कर्मणि प्रयोग (passive); ‘let it be prescribed/ordained’
K
Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

This verse shows Kṛṣṇa voluntarily accepting the same religious regulations established at creation, to guide society and demonstrate dharma through His own conduct.

Kṛṣṇa explains that He will “act out” the apparent consequence of killing for the world’s welfare (lokānugraha), teaching that even powerful leaders should respect moral and scriptural law.

Act responsibly even when you could bypass rules—model integrity, accept accountability, and choose actions that uplift others rather than merely asserting power.