Shloka 17

कुब्जानुग्रहः, धनुर्भङ्गः, कुवलयापीडवधः, मल्लयुद्धं, कंसवधः, स्तुतयः

Devanagari script

अक्रूरागमवृत्तान्तम् उपलभ्य तथा धनुः भग्नं श्रुत्वाथ कंसो ऽपि प्राह चाणूरमुष्टिकौ

Transliteration

akrūrāgamavṛttāntam upalabhya tathā dhanuḥ bhagnaṃ śrutvātha kaṃso 'pi prāha cāṇūramuṣṭikau

Translation

When Kaṁsa came to know the tidings of Akrūra’s arrival, and then heard that the great bow had been broken, he too spoke—addressing Cāṇūra and Muṣṭika.

Word by Word

• अक्रूर-आगम-वृत्तान्तम्: the news of Akrūra’s arrival
• अक्रूर-आगम-वृत्तान्तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अक्रूर (प्रातिपदिक) + आगम (प्रातिपदिक) + वृत्तान्त (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष-समास (षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘अक्रूरस्य आगमस्य वृत्तान्तः’); पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन

• उपलभ्य: having learned
• उपलभ्य: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उप-लभ् (धातु) → उपलभ्य (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund); ‘having learned/obtained’

• तथा: also/likewise
• तथा: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तथा (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; क्रियाविशेषण ‘likewise/also’

• धनुः: the bow
• धनुः: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: धनुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन (object of ‘श्रुत्वा’ understood: ‘heard (that) the bow (was) broken’)

• भग्नम्: broken
• भग्नम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: भञ्ज् (धातु) → भग्न (कृदन्त)
• Form: कृदन्त (क्त); नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifying ‘धनुः’ as object)

• श्रुत्वा: having heard
• श्रुत्वा: Purvakala (Prior action/पूर्वकाल)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: श्रु (धातु) → श्रुत्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund); ‘having heard’

• अथ: then
• अथ: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अथ (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; अनुक्रम/आरम्भसूचक (then/now)

• कंसः: Kaṃsa
• कंसः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कंस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st), एकवचन

• अपि: also
• अपि: Sambandha (Connector/सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: अपि (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय; निपात ‘also/even’

• प्राह: said
• प्राह: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: प्र-आह्/अह् (धातु)
• Form: लिट् (परोक्षभूत/Perfect), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• चाणूर-मुष्टिकौ: Cāṇūra and Muṣṭika
• चाणूर-मुष्टिकौ: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: चाणूर (प्रातिपदिक) + मुष्टिक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: द्वन्द्व-समास (इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व); पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd), द्विवचन (addressed/mentioned as two persons)

Speaker

Sage Parashara (narrating to Maitreya; verse reports Kamsa’s reaction and speech)

Parashara-Maitreya Dialogue

Speaker: Parasara

Teaching: Historical

Quality: revealing

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: Kṛṣṇa’s presence precipitates Kaṃsa’s fear and the unfolding of events leading to the tyrant’s destruction.

Leela: Loka-rakshana

Dharma Restored: Removal of unrighteous kingship and protection of the Yādavas and devotees

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Characters & Entities

• Akrura
• Kamsa
• Chanura
• Mushtika

FAQs

What is the significance of Akrura’s arrival in this part of the Vishnu Purana?

Akrura’s arrival signals that Krishna’s entry into Mathura is imminent; it is a decisive turning-point where Kaṁsa realizes the threat to his rule is no longer distant but present and unfolding.

How does Sage Parashara frame the events around the breaking of the bow?

Parashara presents it as consequential news that immediately alters Kaṁsa’s calculations—an outward event that functions like an omen, showing that the power supporting adharma is being dismantled as Krishna advances.

The theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Though the verse names Krishna’s opponents rather than Vishnu directly, the narrative implies Vishnu’s sovereign agency through Krishna: events align inexorably toward the protection of dharma and the removal of oppressive rule.