Shloka 27

Kṛṣṇa Kills Dantavakra; Balarāma’s Pilgrimage and the Slaying of Romaharṣaṇa

Devanagari script

एतदर्थो हि लोकेऽस्मिन्नवतारो मया कृत: । वध्या मे धर्मध्वजिनस्ते हि पातकिनोऽधिका: ॥ २७ ॥

Transliteration

etad-artho hi loke ’sminn avatāro mayā kṛtaḥ vadhyā me dharma-dhvajinas te hi pātakino ’dhikāḥ

Translation

私がこの世に降臨した真の目的は、信心深いふりをする偽善者たちを滅ぼすことにある。実のところ、彼らこそ最も罪深い悪党なのである。

Synonyms

• etat-arthaḥ: this purpose (as the aim)
• etat-arthaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: etat (प्रातिपदिक) + artha (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular; tatpuruṣa ‘for this purpose’

• hi: indeed / for
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात), emphatic/causal

• loke: in the world
• loke: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: loka (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular

• asmin: in this
• asmin: Adhikaraṇa (अधिकरण)
• Type: Noun
• Root: idam (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine/Neuter, Locative (7th/सप्तमी), Singular; pronoun

• avatāraḥ: descent/incarnation
• avatāraḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: avatāra (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Singular

• mayā: by me
• mayā: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Instrumental (3rd/तृतीया), Singular; 1st person pronoun

• kṛtaḥ: made / performed
• kṛtaḥ: Kriyā (क्रिया)
• Type: Verb
• Root: √kṛ (धातु)
• Form: Past passive participle (क्त), Masculine, Nominative, Singular; agrees with avatāraḥ

• vadhyāḥ: to be slain
• vadhyāḥ: Pratijñā (प्रतीज्ञा/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: vadhya (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; predicate adjective

• me: my / for me
• me: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Noun
• Root: asmad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Genitive (6th/षष्ठी), Singular; enclitic

• dharma-dhvajinaḥ: those who parade as righteous
• dharma-dhvajinaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: dharma (प्रातिपदिक) + dhvajin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; tatpuruṣa ‘those who bear the banner of dharma (hypocrites)’

• te: they
• te: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: tad (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; pronoun

• hi: indeed
• hi: Sambandha (सम्बन्ध)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: hi (अव्यय)
• Form: Particle (निपात)

• pātakinaḥ: sinners
• pātakinaḥ: Karta (कर्ता)
• Type: Noun
• Root: pātakin (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural

• adhikāḥ: greater (in sin) / excessive
• adhikāḥ: Pratijñā (प्रतीज्ञा/विधेय)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: adhika (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: Masculine, Nominative (1st/प्रथमा), Plural; comparative sense ‘more/exceedingly’

Purport

Lord Balarāma was not prepared to overlook Romaharṣaṇa’s offense. The Lord had descended specifically to eliminate those who claim to be great religious leaders but do not even respect the Supreme Personality of Godhead.

Characters & Entities

• Śrī Kṛṣṇa

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about hypocrites who pose as religious?

This verse says that those who display religion outwardly while acting sinfully—“dharma-dhvajinaḥ”—are considered especially blameworthy, and Kṛṣṇa declares such hypocrisy a key reason for His avatāra.

Why did Krishna say He descends for this purpose?

In the context of Canto 10, Kṛṣṇa explains that His descent is not only to protect devotees but also to remove destructive forces—particularly those who misuse dharma as a disguise for wrongdoing.

How can this teaching be applied in modern life?

Practice integrity: align conduct with spiritual principles, avoid using religion for prestige or harm, and cultivate genuine devotion and ethical behavior rather than external display.