Shloka 32

The Killing of Keśī and Vyomāsura; Nārada’s Prophetic Praise of Kṛṣṇa

Devanagari script

तं निगृह्याच्युतो दोर्भ्यां पातयित्वा महीतले । पश्यतां दिवि देवानां पशुमारममारयत् ॥ ३२ ॥

Transliteration

taṁ nigṛhyācyuto dorbhyāṁ pātayitvā mahī-tale paśyatāṁ divi devānāṁ paśu-māram amārayat

Translation

Le Seigneur Acyuta saisit Vyomāsura entre Ses deux bras et le jeta à terre; sous les yeux des demi-dieux au ciel, Kṛṣṇa le tua comme on immole une bête dans le yajña.

Synonyms

• तम्: him
• तम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम (pronoun), पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• निगृह्य: having seized/held back
• निगृह्य: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: नि + ग्रह् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वक्रिया (prior action)

• अच्युतः: Acyuta (Krishna)
• अच्युतः: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अच्युत (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति (Nominative), एकवचन

• दोर्भ्याम्: with (his) two arms
• दोर्भ्याम्: Karaṇa (करण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दोर्/दोर्- (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया-विभक्ति (Instrumental), द्विवचन

• पातयित्वा: having thrown down
• पातयित्वा: Kriyāviśeṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषण)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पत्/पातय् (धातु; णिच् causative)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्यय (Gerund/Absolutive), णिच्-प्रयोग (causative sense)

• महीतले: on the ground
• महीतले: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: महीतल (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष (मही + तल), नपुंसकलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन

• पश्यताम्: of those watching
• पश्यताम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Verb
• Root: पश्यत् (धातु-दृश्; शतृ-प्रत्यय)
• Form: शतृ-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान कृदन्त (present active participle) ‘पश्यत्’, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन; ‘while (they) were watching’

• दिवि: in heaven
• दिवि: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिव् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: स्त्रीलिङ्ग, सप्तमी-विभक्ति (Locative), एकवचन

• देवानाम्: of the gods
• देवानाम्: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: देव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (Genitive), बहुवचन

• पशुमारम्: the beast-killer (demon)
• पशुमारम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: पशु-मार (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: उपपद-तत्पुरुष/कर्मधारय-प्राय (पशून् मारयति इति), पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया-विभक्ति (Accusative), एकवचन

• अमारयत्: killed
• अमारयत्: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: मृ (धातु; णिच् causative)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/past), परस्मैपद, प्रथम-पुरुष (3rd person), एकवचन; णिच्-प्रयोग (causative)

Purport

The ācāryas inform us that sacrificial animals were killed by means of strangulation.

Characters & Entities

• Acyuta (Śrī Kṛṣṇa)
• Ariṣṭāsura (the bull demon)
• Devas (demigods)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Krishna killing Arishtasura?

This verse describes how Śrī Kṛṣṇa (Acyuta) physically seized the bull demon, threw him to the ground, and killed him as the devas watched—showing the Lord’s protection of Vraja and the cows.

Why is Krishna called Acyuta in this verse?

Acyuta means “infallible” or “one who never falls from His position.” Even while performing intense combat, Kṛṣṇa remains fully divine, steady, and victorious in His purpose of protecting dharma.

Practical application of Krishna’s protection of dharma in modern life?

The verse encourages devotees to trust that sincere dharmic effort and devotion are protected by the Lord—stand firm against harmful influences and safeguard what is sacred (innocence, compassion, and nonviolence).