Shloka 16
कुब्जानुग्रहः, धनुर्भङ्गः, कुवलयापीडवधः, मल्लयुद्धं, कंसवधः, स्तुतयः
अनुयुक्तौ ततस् तौ तु भग्ने धनुषि रक्षिभिः रक्षिसैन्यं निकृत्योभौ निष्क्रान्तौ कार्मुकालयात्
anuyuktau tatas tau tu bhagne dhanuṣi rakṣibhiḥ rakṣisainyaṃ nikṛtyobhau niṣkrāntau kārmukālayāt
Then those two, pressed hard by the rākṣasas, found their bow broken. Yet, having cut down the rākṣasa host, the pair—undaunted—made their way out from the armory-house.
Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)
Speaker: Parasara
Teaching: Historical
Quality: authoritative
Avatara: Krishna
Purpose: Kṛṣṇa descends to remove the burden of the earth by destroying Kaṃsa and allied adharma forces while protecting devotees.
Leela: Yuddha
Dharma Restored: Kṣatriya-dharma and protection of the righteous against tyrannical force
Vishnu Form: Krishna
FAQs
In this verse, rākṣasas function as forces of disruption; cutting down their host and escaping signifies the restoration of order and the protection of dharma within the royal narrative.
By showing the pair continuing the fight even after their bow is broken, the narrative highlights steadfastness, courage, and duty—hallmarks of kṣatriya-dharma emphasized throughout the dynastic sections.
Though not named in the verse, the Vishnu Purana frames the preservation of cosmic and social order as aligned with Vishnu’s sustaining sovereignty—dharma’s survival reflects the Supreme Reality’s protective function.