Shloka 6

Harivaṁśa-saṅkṣepa: Kṛṣṇa’s Avatāra Deeds, Dynastic Continuity, and Post-departure Succession

Devanagari script

चाणूरो मुष्टिको मल्लः कंसो मञ्चान्निपातितः / रुक्मिणीसत्यभामाद्याः ह्यष्टौ पत्न्यो हरेः पराः

Transliteration

cāṇūro muṣṭiko mallaḥ kaṃso mañcānnipātitaḥ / rukmiṇīsatyabhāmādyāḥ hyaṣṭau patnyo hareḥ parāḥ

Translation

Cāṇūra and Muṣṭika, the wrestlers, were slain, and Kaṁsa was cast down from the arena-platform. Rukmiṇī, Satyabhāmā, and the others are indeed the eight exalted wives of Hari (Śrī Kṛṣṇa).

Word by Word

• चाणूरः: Cāṇūra
• चाणूरः: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चाणूर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मुष्टिकः: Muṣṭika
• मुष्टिकः: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मुष्टिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मल्लः: wrestler
• मल्लः: Karma (Apposition)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मल्ल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; पूर्वयोः विशेषण/सम्बोधन-रूपेण (wrestler)

• कंसः: Kaṃsa
• कंसः: Karma (Object)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कंस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन

• मञ्चात्: from the platform
• मञ्चात्: Apadana (Source)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मञ्च (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, पञ्चमी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; अपादान (from the platform)

• निपातितः: was cast down
• निपातितः: Karma (Predicate of object)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √पत् (धातु) + नि + णिच् + क्त (कृदन्त)
• Form: भूतकर्मणि कृदन्त, पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कंस-विषये (was thrown down)

• रुक्मिणी-सत्यभामा-आद्याः: Rukmiṇī, Satyabhāmā, and others
• रुक्मिणी-सत्यभामा-आद्याः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रुक्मिणी + सत्यभामा + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; द्वन्द्व-समासः (enumerative): रुक्मिणी च सत्यभामा च (and others)

• हि: indeed
• हि: Sambandha (Emphasis)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हि (अव्यय)
• Form: निपात (emphatic particle)

• अष्टौ: eight
• अष्टौ: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टन् (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या)
• Form: संख्यावाचक-विशेषण, पुंलिङ्ग/स्त्रीलिङ्ग-प्रयोगे प्रथमा, बहुवचन; ‘eight’ (agreeing with पत्न्यः)

• पत्न्यः: wives
• पत्न्यः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पत्नी (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन

• हरेः: of Hari (Kṛṣṇa)
• हरेः: Sambandha (Possessor)
• Type: Noun
• Root: हरि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन; सम्बन्ध (genitive)

• पराः: excellent/supreme
• पराः: Visheshana (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परा (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, बहुवचन; पत्न्यः-विशेषणम् (excellent/supreme)

Speaker

Lord Vishnu (narrating to Garuda/Vinata-putra)

Philosophical Teaching

Concept: Tyranny and adharma are overthrown; righteous order is re-established through divine agency.

Vedantic Theme: Bhagavān as dharma-saṃsthāpaka (restorer of order) acting within history.

Application: Stand against oppression; align strength with justice; honor sacred commitments in relationships (marital dharma) as part of ordered life.

Verse Rasa

Primary Rasa: vira

Secondary Rasa: shringara

Geographic Context

Type: royal city/arena-platform (raṅga-maṇḍapa)

Cross References

Related Themes: Garuda Purana 1.144 (Mathurā events and Krishna’s household)

Characters & Entities

• Cāṇūra
• Muṣṭika
• Kaṁsa
• Hari (Śrī Kṛṣṇa)
• Rukmiṇī
• Satyabhāmā

FAQs

What is the importance of Krishna’s victory over Kaṁsa in the Garuda Purana?

This verse recalls Hari’s destruction of adharma—defeating the wrestlers and overthrowing Kaṁsa—affirming divine protection and the restoration of righteous order.

How does this verse explain the path of the soul?

Indirectly, it reinforces the Purāṇic theme that alignment with Hari and dharma leads toward spiritual welfare, while tyrannical adharma (as embodied by Kaṁsa) culminates in downfall.

Practical application of this wisdom today?

Cultivate dharma and devotion: oppose injustice in one’s conduct, and remember the divine as the upholder of moral order and inner discipline.