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Shloka 18

Trivakrā’s Transformation and the Breaking of Kaṁsa’s Bow

Mathurā-līlā Prelude

धनुषो भज्यमानस्य शब्द: खं रोदसी दिश: । पूरयामास यं श्रुत्वा कंसस्त्रासमुपागमत् ॥ १८ ॥

dhanuṣo bhajyamānasya śabdaḥ khaṁ rodasī diśaḥ pūrayām āsa yaṁ śrutvā kaṁsas trāsam upāgamat

വില്ല് പൊട്ടുന്ന ആ മഹാശബ്ദം ആകാശവും ഭൂമിയും എല്ലാ ദിക്കുകളും നിറച്ചു. അത് കേട്ട കംസൻ ഭീതിയിൽ വിറച്ചു.

धनुषःof the bow
धनुषः:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
TypeNoun
Rootधनुस् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन
भज्यमानस्यbeing broken
भज्यमानस्य:
Sambandha (सम्बन्ध/Genitive)
TypeVerb
Root√भञ्ज् (धातु)
Formशानच्-प्रत्ययान्त वर्तमान कर्मणि कृदन्त (present passive participle), षष्ठी (Genitive), एकवचन; ‘while being broken’
शब्दःthe sound
शब्दः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootशब्द (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन
खम्the sky
खम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootख (प्रातिपदिक)
Formनपुंसकलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन
रोदसीthe two worlds (heaven and earth)
रोदसी:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootरोदसी (प्रातिपदिक; द्विवचनान्त)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), द्विवचन; ‘heaven and earth’
दिशःthe directions
दिशः:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootदिश् (प्रातिपदिक)
Formस्त्रीलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), बहुवचन
पूरयामासfilled
पूरयामास:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Root√पॄ/पूरय् (धातु)
Formलिट् (Perfect) परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; ‘filled’
आस(did)
आस:
Kriyā (क्रिया-सहायक)
TypeVerb
Root√अस् (धातु)
Formलिट् (Perfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन; सहायक-क्रिया (auxiliary with लिट्-परिप्रयोग)
यम्which/whom
यम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootयद् (सर्वनाम-प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन; सम्बन्धक (relative pronoun)
श्रुत्वाhaving heard
श्रुत्वा:
Kriyā (क्रिया; पूर्वकर्म)
TypeVerb
Root√श्रु (धातु)
Formक्त्वा-प्रत्ययान्त अव्यय (gerund)
कंसःKaṁsa
कंसः:
Karta (कर्ता)
TypeNoun
Rootकंस (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा (Nominative), एकवचन
त्रासम्fear
त्रासम्:
Karma (कर्म)
TypeNoun
Rootत्रास (प्रातिपदिक)
Formपुंलिङ्ग, द्वितीया (Accusative), एकवचन
उपागमत्attained/was seized by
उपागमत्:
Kriyā (क्रिया)
TypeVerb
Rootउप-√गम् (धातु)
Formलङ् (Imperfect), परस्मैपद, प्रथमपुरुष, एकवचन
K
Kaṁsa

FAQs

This verse states that when Krishna broke the great bow, the sound filled all directions, and Kaṁsa—hearing it—was overtaken by fear.

In the narrative, the bow was a royal, guarded weapon; Krishna shattering it effortlessly signaled irresistible divine strength and the nearing fulfillment of the prophecy of Kaṁsa’s downfall.

The same divine power that terrifies the ego and wrongdoing becomes shelter for the surrendered; the verse encourages turning fear into refuge by remembering and serving the Lord.