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

Para raksasa pengikut Kaṁsa mahir menganiaya orang lain, terutama para Vaiṣṇava, dan dapat mengambil rupa apa pun sesuka hati. Setelah memberi izin kepada mereka untuk pergi ke segala arah dan menindas orang suci, Kaṁsa pun masuk ke istananya.

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.