Shloka 10

The Vraja Elders Question Kṛṣṇa’s Identity; Nanda Recounts Garga’s Prophecy

Devanagari script

हत्वा रासभदैतेयं तद्ब‍न्धूंश्च बलान्वित: । चक्रे तालवनं क्षेमं परिपक्‍वफलान्वितम् ॥ १० ॥

Transliteration

hatvā rāsabha-daiteyaṁ tad-bandhūṁś ca balānvitaḥ cakre tāla-vanaṁ kṣemaṁ paripakva-phalānvitam

Translation

ബലരാമനോടൊപ്പം ശ്രീകൃഷ്ണൻ കഴുതാദൈത്യനായ രാസഭനെയും അവന്റെ കൂട്ടുകാരെയും വധിച്ചു. അതോടെ താളവനം സുരക്ഷിതമായി, പാകമായ പനഫലങ്ങളാൽ സമൃദ്ധമായി.

Synonyms

• हत्वा: having killed
• हत्वा: पूर्वकाल-क्रिया (Prior action)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: हन् (धातु) → हत्वा (क्त्वान्त)
• Form: क्त्वान्त-अव्यय (gerund): ‘having killed’

• रासभ-दैतेयम्: the ass-demon (Dhenuka)
• रासभ-दैतेयम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: रासभ (प्रातिपदिक) + दैतेय (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; कर्मधारय: रासभः एव दैतेयः = ‘the ass-like Daitya (Dhenuka)’

• तद्-बन्धून्: his companions
• तद्-बन्धून्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (सर्वनाम) + बन्धु (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, द्वितीया, बहुवचन; षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: तस्य बन्धवः = ‘his companions/kinsmen’

• च: and
• च: समुच्चय (Connector)
• Type: Indeclinable
• Root: च (अव्यय)
• Form: समुच्चय-अव्यय (conjunction)

• बल-अन्वितः: endowed with strength
• बल-अन्वितः: कर्तृ (Subject/कर्ता)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: बल (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्वित (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुल्लिङ्ग, प्रथमा, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: बलेन अन्वितः = ‘endowed with strength’

• चक्रे: made/rendered
• चक्रे: क्रिया (Verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: कृ (धातु)
• Form: लिट्-लकार (Perfect), आत्मनेपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; सकर्मक

• ताल-वनम्: the Tāla forest (palm grove)
• ताल-वनम्: कर्म (Object/कर्म)
• Type: Noun
• Root: ताल (प्रातिपदिक) + वन (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: तालानां वनम् = ‘palm-grove’

• क्षेमम्: safe/secure
• क्षेमम्: कर्म (Object complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्षेम (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; विशेषण (qualifies तालवनम्)

• परिपक्व-फल-अन्वितम्: filled with fully ripe fruits
• परिपक्व-फल-अन्वितम्: कर्म (Object complement)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: परि (उपसर्ग) + पक्व (कृदन्त) + फल (प्रातिपदिक) + अन्वित (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: नपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया, एकवचन; तत्पुरुष: परिपक्वानि फलानि येन अन्वितम् = ‘endowed with fully ripe fruits’ (qualifies तालवनम्)

Purport

Long, long ago, the powerful demons Hiraṇyakaśipu and Hiraṇyākṣa were born of the goddess Diti. Therefore demons are commonly called daiteyas or daityas, meaning “descendants of Diti.” Dhenukāsura, the ass demon, terrorized the Tāla forest with his friends, but Śrī Kṛṣṇa and Śrī Balarāma killed them just as modern governments kill terrorists who harass innocent people.

Characters & Entities

• Balarāma
• Dhenukāsura

FAQs

What does the Srimad Bhagavatam say about Dhenukasura and the Tālavana forest?

It states that after Balarāma killed the ass-demon Dhenukāsura and his companions, the Tālavana forest became safe and abundant with ripened fruits.

Why is Balarāma described as making Tālavana ‘kṣema’ (safe)?

Because the demon and his allies had made the forest dangerous; by removing them, Balarāma restored peace so the residents could enjoy its fruits without fear.

What is a practical lesson from this verse for modern devotional life?

Devotional progress becomes easier when obstacles are removed—seek strength through sādhana and good association, and trust that divine protection clears impediments on the path of bhakti.