Shloka 44

Yoga-māyā Appears as Durgā; Kaṁsa’s Repentance and the Demonic Policy of Persecuting Vaiṣṇavas

Devanagari script

सन्दिश्य साधुलोकस्य कदने कदनप्रियान् । कामरूपधरान् दिक्षु दानवान् गृहमाविशत् ॥ ४४ ॥

Transliteration

sandiśya sādhu-lokasya kadane kadana-priyān kāma-rūpa-dharān dikṣu dānavān gṛham āviśat

Translation

Les démons, partisans de Kaṁsa, excellaient à persécuter autrui, surtout les vaiṣṇavas, et pouvaient prendre la forme qu’ils désiraient. Après les avoir autorisés à se répandre en tous sens pour tourmenter les saints, Kaṁsa entra dans son palais.

Synonyms

• सन्दिश्य: having instructed/ordered
• सन्दिश्य: Kriya-visheṣaṇa (क्रियाविशेषणम्)
• Type: Verb
• Root: सम्-√दिश् (धातु)
• Form: क्त्वान्त अव्ययकृदन्त (Gerund/Absolutive), पूर्वकाल (prior action), सम्-उपसर्ग

• साधु-लोकस्य: of the pious people
• साधु-लोकस्य: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
• Type: Noun
• Root: साधु (प्रातिपदिक) + लोक (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष; Masculine, Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular (एकवचन)

• कदने: in the slaughter/torment
• कदने: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कदन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• कदन-प्रियान्: those fond of killing
• कदन-प्रियान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: कदन (प्रातिपदिक) + प्रिय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (कदनस्य प्रियाः); Masculine, Accusative (2nd/द्वितीया), Plural (बहुवचन)

• काम-रूप-धरान्: assuming forms at will
• काम-रूप-धरान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: काम (प्रातिपदिक) + रूप (प्रातिपदिक) + धर (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: तत्पुरुष (कामरूपं धरन्ति ये); Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Plural

• दिक्षु: in the directions
• दिक्षु: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरणम्)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Feminine, Locative (7th), Plural

• दानवान्: demons (Dānavas)
• दानवान्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: दानव (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Accusative (2nd), Plural

• गृहम्: to the house
• गृहम्: Karma (कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: गृह (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Neuter, Accusative (2nd), Singular

• आविशत्: entered
• आविशत्: Kriya (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: आ-√विश् (धातु)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद; Third person (प्रथमपुरुष), Singular (एकवचन)

Characters & Entities

• Kaṁsa
• Dānavas (demons)

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about demons persecuting saints (sādhus)?

This verse describes Kaṁsa’s policy of adharma: he commands demons who enjoy violence to spread everywhere and torment the saintly, showing how tyrannical rulers target devotion and goodness.

Why did Kaṁsa send shape-shifting demons in all directions?

Fearing the prophecy of his death, Kaṁsa escalated his cruelty by deploying kāmarūpa (shape-changing) demons to infiltrate society and kill sādhus, attempting to suppress the forces of dharma and devotion.

Practical application: how should one respond when goodness is targeted?

The verse highlights that adharma often attacks the saintly; a practical takeaway is to consciously support and protect dharmic people and practices—through association, service, and steadfast personal integrity—rather than yielding to fear or intimidation.