Previous Verse
Next Verse

Shloka 29

Jarāsandha’s Siege of Mathurā, Kṛṣṇa-Balarāma’s Victory, and the Founding of Dvārakā amid Kālayavana’s Threat

स्थित्युद्भ‍वान्तं भुवनत्रयस्य य: समीहितेऽनन्तगुण: स्वलीलया । न तस्य चित्रं परपक्षनिग्रह- स्तथापि मर्त्यानुविधस्य वर्ण्यते ॥ २९ ॥

sthity-udbhavāntaṁ bhuvana-trayasya yaḥ samīhite ’nanta-guṇaḥ sva-līlayā na tasya citraṁ para-pakṣa-nigrahas tathāpi martyānuvidhasya varṇyate

Bagi Dia yang mengatur penciptaan, pemeliharaan, dan pemusnahan tiga dunia dan yang memiliki sifat-sifat rohani yang tak terbatas, tidaklah mengherankan jika Dia menaklukkan pihak lawan. Namun, ketika Tuhan melakukannya dengan meniru perilaku manusia, para resi memuliakan perbuatan-Nya.

sthiti-udbhava-antammaintenance, creation, and end
sthiti-udbhava-antam:
Karma (कर्म/Object)
TypeNoun
Rootsthiti + udbhava + anta (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; द्वन्द्वः (स्थितिः+उद्भवः+अन्तः) समाहार-द्वन्द्वः; object of samīhite
bhuvana-trayasyaof the three worlds
bhuvana-trayasya:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
TypeNoun
Rootbhuvana + traya (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (भुवनानां त्रयम् = three worlds)
yaḥwho
yaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootyad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; relative pronoun
samīhitewills, undertakes
samīhite:
Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
TypeVerb
Rootsam√īh (ईह् धातु)
Formलट् (Present), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘he wills/undertakes’
ananta-guṇaḥof infinite qualities
ananta-guṇaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject qualifier)
TypeAdjective
Rootananta + guṇa (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (अनन्ताः गुणाः यस्य)
sva-līlayāby his own play
sva-līlayā:
Karaṇa (करण/Instrument)
TypeNoun
Rootsva + līlā (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, तृतीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारयः (स्वा लीला)
nanot
na:
Pratiṣedha (प्रतिषेध)
TypeIndeclinable
Rootna (अव्यय)
Formनिषेधार्थक-अव्यय (negation particle)
tasyaof him
tasya:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
TypeNoun
Roottad (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसक, षष्ठी, एकवचन; Genitive singular
citrama wonder
citram:
Karma (कर्म/Predicate)
TypeNoun
Rootcitra (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; predicate nominative
para-pakṣa-nigrahaḥsubjugation of the enemy side
para-pakṣa-nigrahaḥ:
Karta (कर्ता/Subject)
TypeNoun
Rootpara + pakṣa + nigraha (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (परस्य पक्षस्य निग्रहः = subjugation of the opposing side)
tathāpieven so, nevertheless
tathāpi:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Concessive)
TypeIndeclinable
Roottathā + api (अव्यय)
Formअव्यय; अव्ययीभाववत् प्रयोगः (concessive: ‘even so’)
martya-anuvidhasyaof him who behaves like a mortal
martya-anuvidhasya:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
TypeNoun
Rootmartya + anuvidha (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी, एकवचन; तत्पुरुषः (मर्त्यान् अनुविधः = one who follows mortals; i.e., acting like a human)
varṇyateis described
varṇyate:
Kriyā (क्रिया/Verb)
TypeVerb
Rootvarṇ (वर्ण् धातु)
Formलट् (Present), कर्मणि (passive), प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘is described’

The philosopher Aristotle once argued that the Supreme God would hardly take part in human activities, since all ordinary activities are unworthy of such a divine being. Similarly, Śrīla Viśvanātha Cakravartī, who almost certainly never read the works of Aristotle, raises a similar point. Since Śrī Kṛṣṇa creates, maintains and annihilates the entire universe, isn’t it an uninteresting mismatch when He fights against Jarāsandha?

Ś
Śrī Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

This verse explains that although Kṛṣṇa governs creation, maintenance, and dissolution, He still performs humanlike deeds in His līlā, and those deeds are described to help mortals relate to Him and deepen devotion.

Because Kṛṣṇa is the Lord of the three worlds with infinite qualities; for such a Supreme Being, overpowering opposing forces is effortless and therefore not surprising.

Approach Krishna-kathā as spiritually transformative: hearing His ‘humanlike’ pastimes with faith builds bhakti, humility, and trust that the Supreme can guide one through worldly conflicts.