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Shloka 37

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

किं व: कामो मुनिश्रेष्ठा ब्रूताहं करवाण्यथ । अजानतस्त्वपचितिं यथा मे चिन्त्यतां बुधा: ॥ ३७ ॥

kiṁ vaḥ kāmo muni-śreṣṭhā brūtāhaṁ karavāṇy atha ajānatas tv apacitiṁ yathā me cintyatāṁ budhāḥ

Please tell Me your desire, O best of sages, and I shall certainly fulfill it. And, O wise souls, please carefully determine My proper atonement, since I do not know what it might be.

kimwhat
kim:
Karma (कर्म/Object)
TypeNoun
Rootkim (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormNeuter (नपुंसकलिङ्ग), Nominative/Accusative (1st/2nd), Singular (एकवचन); interrogative
vaḥof you / to you
vaḥ:
Sampradana/Sambandha (सम्प्रदान/सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootyusmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormGenitive (6th/षष्ठी) or Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Plural (बहुवचन) (enclitic)
kāmaḥdesire, request
kāmaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootkāma (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)
muni-śreṣṭhāḥO best of sages
muni-śreṣṭhāḥ:
Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
TypeNoun
Rootmuni (प्रातिपदिक) + śreṣṭha (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन), Plural (बहुवचन); षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: munīnām śreṣṭhāḥ
brūtatell (you all)
brūta:
Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
TypeVerb
Rootbrū (धातु)
FormImperative (लोट्), 2nd person (मध्यमपुरुष), Plural (बहुवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)
ahamI
aham:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootasmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormNominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular (एकवचन)
karavāṇimay I do
karavāṇi:
Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
TypeVerb
Rootkṛ (धातु)
FormOptative (विधिलिङ्), 1st person (उत्तमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Parasmaipada (परस्मैपद)
athathen, now
atha:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Discourse connector)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootatha (अव्यय)
FormParticle/conjunction (निपात), ‘then/now’
ajānataḥof one who does not know (i.e., unknowingly)
ajānataḥ:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive absolute-like)
TypeAdjective
Roota√jñā (धातु) + śatṛ (शतृ)
FormPresent active participle (शतृ-कृदन्त) with privative a-, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन); ‘of (me) not knowing’
tubut
tu:
Sambandha/Contrast (सम्बन्ध/विरोध)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottu (अव्यय)
FormAdversative particle (निपात)
apacitimatonement, expiation
apacitim:
Karma (कर्म/Object)
TypeNoun
Rootapaciti (प्रातिपदिक)
FormFeminine (स्त्रीलिङ्ग), Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Singular (एकवचन)
yathāas, so that
yathā:
Prakāra (प्रकार/Mode)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootyathā (अव्यय)
FormAdverb/conjunction (अव्यय), ‘as/how/so that’
mefor me / of me
me:
Sampradana/Sambandha (सम्प्रदान/सम्बन्ध)
TypeNoun
Rootasmad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
FormGenitive (6th/षष्ठी) or Dative (4th/चतुर्थी), Singular (एकवचन) (enclitic)
cintyatāmlet (it) be considered
cintyatām:
Kriya (क्रिया/Verbal action)
TypeVerb
Rootcint (धातु)
FormImperative (लोट्), 3rd person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन), Ātmanepada (आत्मनेपद), Passive sense (कर्मणि प्रयोग): ‘let it be considered’
budhāḥO wise ones
budhāḥ:
Sambodhana (सम्बोधन/Address)
TypeNoun
Rootbudha (प्रातिपदिक)
FormMasculine (पुंलिङ्ग), Vocative (8th/सम्बोधन) or Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural (बहुवचन); context: address

Lord Balarāma here sets a perfect example for people in general by humbly submitting Himself before the qualified brāhmaṇas.

Ś
Śrī Kṛṣṇa
M
muniśreṣṭhāḥ (the sages)

FAQs

This verse shows the ideal dharmic attitude: even if an offense was unintentional, one should seek guidance from the wise and do what is required to properly atone and set things right.

In the narrative flow, Kṛṣṇa addresses the exalted sages with respect and accountability, inviting them to prescribe the proper course of atonement so that dharma is upheld and any unintended fault is rectified.

When you realize you may have caused harm—especially unintentionally—acknowledge it, consult trustworthy and wise counsel, and take concrete steps to repair the situation rather than defending yourself.