Shloka 73

कुब्जानुग्रहः, धनुर्भङ्गः, कुवलयापीडवधः, मल्लयुद्धं, कंसवधः, स्तुतयः

Devanagari script

एवम् आज्ञापयानं तु प्रहस्य मधुसूदनः उत्प्लुत्यारुह्य तं मञ्चं कंसं जग्राह वेगतः

Transliteration

evam ājñāpayānaṃ tu prahasya madhusūdanaḥ utplutyāruhya taṃ mañcaṃ kaṃsaṃ jagrāha vegataḥ

Translation

As Kaṃsa issued his commands, Madhusūdana—Śrī Kṛṣṇa, smiling in calm mastery—leapt up, mounted the dais, and swiftly seized Kaṃsa.

Word by Word

• एवम्: thus
• एवम्: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: एवम् (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (क्रियाविशेषण/adverb): ‘एवं/thus’

• आज्ञापयानम्: (him) who was ordering
• आज्ञापयानम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: आज्ञापयत् (धातु √आज्ञा/आज्ञापय्, causative) (कृदन्त)
• Form: वर्तमानकृदन्त (शतृ/Present active participle), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; ‘आज्ञापयन्’ = commanding/ordering

• तु: but/indeed
• तु: Discourse particle (निपात)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: तु (अव्यय)
• Form: अव्यय (निपात/particle): विरोध/अन्वयार्थे ‘but/indeed’

• प्रहस्य: having laughed
• प्रहस्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: प्रहस् (धातु √हस्) (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive/gerund), अव्ययभाव: ‘प्रहस्य’ = having laughed

• मधुसूदनः: Madhusūdana (Krishna)
• मधुसूदनः: Karta (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मधु + सूदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (1st/कर्ता), एकवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: ‘मधुं सूदयति’/‘slayer of Madhu’

• उत्प्लुत्य: having leapt up
• उत्प्लुत्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: उत् + प्लु (धातु √प्लु) (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), अव्ययभाव: ‘उत्प्लुत्य’ = having leapt up

• आरुह्य: having mounted
• आरुह्य: Purvakala-kriya (Prior action/पूर्वकालक्रिया)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: आ + रुह् (धातु √रुह्) (कृदन्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त (absolutive), अव्ययभाव: ‘आरुह्य’ = having mounted/climbed

• तम्: that (him/it)
• तम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन; सर्वनाम

• मञ्चम्: platform/throne-seat
• मञ्चम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: मञ्च (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• कंसम्: Kaṃsa
• कंसम्: Karma (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कंस (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (2nd/कर्म), एकवचन

• जग्राह: seized
• जग्राह: Kriya (Action/क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: ग्रह् (धातु √ग्रह्)
• Form: लिट् (Perfect/परोक्ष), प्रथमपुरुष (3rd), एकवचन; परस्मैपद

• वेगतः: swiftly
• वेगतः: Kriya-visheshaṇa (Adverbial modifier/क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: वेग (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तसिल्-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (ablatival adverb): ‘वेगतः’ = swiftly/with speed

Speaker

Sage Parāśara (narrating to Maitreya)

Avatara Context

Avatara: Krishna

Purpose: To remove Kaṃsa and other adharma-bearing forces, protecting the Yādavas and restoring righteous rule in Mathurā.

Leela: Yuddha

Dharma Restored: Removal of tyrannical kingship and protection of the Lord’s devotees.

Vaishnava Theology

Vishnu Form: Krishna

Characters & Entities

• Madhusūdana (Krishna)
• Kaṃsa

FAQs

What is the significance of Krishna seizing Kaṃsa in the Vishnu Purana?

It marks the turning point where divine authority directly overthrows adharma, restoring rightful order and fulfilling the purpose of the avatāra.

How does Sage Parāśara frame this event in the dialogue with Maitreya?

Parāśara narrates it as a swift, inevitable act of the Lord—Krishna’s calm smile and sudden movement emphasize controlled sovereignty rather than mere human combat.

The theological importance of Lord Vishnu in this context?

Krishna, identified by the epithet Madhusūdana, acts as the Supreme Protector whose līlā subdues tyranny and re-establishes dharma, aligning history with cosmic order.