Shloka 16
The Slaying of Narakāsura (Bhaumāsura), Rescue of the Princesses, and the Pārijāta Episode Begins
तद् भौमसैन्यं भगवान् गदाग्रजो विचित्रवाजैर्निशितै: शिलीमुखै: । निकृत्तबाहूरुशिरोध्रविग्रहं चकार तर्ह्येव हताश्वकुञ्जरम् ॥ १६ ॥
tad bhauma-sainyaṁ bhagavān gadāgrajo vicitra-vājair niśitaiḥ śilīmukhaiḥ nikṛtta-bāhūru-śirodhra-vigrahaṁ cakāra tarhy eva hatāśva-kuñjaram
À ce moment, le Seigneur Gadagraja tira Ses flèches acérées sur l'armée de Bhaumasura. Ces flèches, arborant des plumes bigarrées, réduisirent bientôt cette armée à un amas de corps aux bras, cuisses et cous tranchés. Le Seigneur tua de la même manière les chevaux et les éléphants adverses.
FAQs
This verse describes how Śrī Kṛṣṇa swiftly destroyed Bhauma (Narakāsura)’s forces with sharp arrows, cutting down their bodies and killing their horses and elephants—showing the Lord’s effortless victory over adharma.
“Gadāgraja” means “the elder brother of Gadā,” a poetic way to identify Kṛṣṇa through His relationship with Balarāma (Gadā’s elder brother), commonly used in epic-Purāṇic Sanskrit style.
The verse reminds a devotee that when one takes shelter of Bhagavān, destructive forces of adharma are ultimately overcome; it inspires courage, faith, and steadiness in righteous action.