Shloka 40

The Killing of Cāṇūra, Muṣṭika, and Kaṁsa; Liberation and Restoration of Dharma in Mathurā

Devanagari script

तस्यानुजा भ्रातरोऽष्टौ कङ्कन्यग्रोधकादय: । अभ्यधावन्नतिक्रुद्धा भ्रातुर्निर्वेशकारिण: ॥ ४० ॥

Transliteration

tasyānujā bhrātaro ’ṣṭau kaṅka-nyagrodhakādayaḥ abhyadhāvann ati-kruddhā bhrātur nirveśa-kāriṇaḥ

Translation

അപ്പോൾ കങ്കനും ന്യഗ്രോധകനുമൊക്കെയുള്ള കംസന്റെ എട്ട് ഇളയ സഹോദരന്മാർ, സഹോദരന്റെ മരണത്തിന് പ്രതികാരം ചെയ്യാൻ അതിക്രോധത്തോടെ ആ രണ്ടു പ്രഭുക്കളുടെ മേൽ പാഞ്ഞെത്തി.

Synonyms

• तस्य: of him
• तस्य: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: तद् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: सर्वनाम; पुंलिङ्ग/नपुंसकलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति (6th/Genitive), एकवचन

• अनुजाः: younger brothers
• अनुजाः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: अनुज (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• भ्रातरः: brothers
• भ्रातरः: कर्ता (Karta/Subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• अष्टौ: eight
• अष्टौ: विशेषण (Qualifier)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: अष्टन् (प्रातिपदिक/संख्या)
• Form: संख्यावाचक; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (भ्रातरः इत्यस्य विशेषणम्)

• कङ्क-न्यग्रोधक-आदयः: Kaṅka, Nyagrodhaka and others
• कङ्क-न्यग्रोधक-आदयः: कर्ता (Apposition to subject)
• Type: Noun
• Root: कङ्क (प्रातिपदिक) + न्यग्रोधक (प्रातिपदिक) + आदि (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: समाहार/इतरेतर-द्वन्द्व + ‘आदि’ (etc.); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन

• अभ्यधावन्: they rushed toward
• अभ्यधावन्: क्रिया (Main verb)
• Type: Verb
• Root: धाव् (धातु) + अभि (उपसर्ग)
• Form: लङ्-लकार (Imperfect/Past), परस्मैपद; प्रथम-पुरुष, बहुवचन

• अति-क्रुद्धाः: very angry
• अति-क्रुद्धाः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Qualifier of agent)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: क्रुध् (धातु) → क्रुद्ध (कृदन्त/प्रातिपदिक) + अति (उपसर्ग)
• Form: उपपद-तत्पुरुष (prefixal); पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (subject-qualifier)

• भ्रातुः: of (their) brother
• भ्रातुः: सम्बन्ध (Genitive relation)
• Type: Noun
• Root: भ्रातृ (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: पुंलिङ्ग, षष्ठी-विभक्ति, एकवचन

• निर्वेश-कारिणः: intent on vengeance
• निर्वेश-कारिणः: कर्ता-विशेषण (Qualifier of agent)
• Type: Adjective
• Root: निर्वेश (प्रातिपदिक) + कारिन् (प्रातिपदिक)
• Form: षष्ठी-तत्पुरुष: निर्वेशं (प्रतिशोधम्/vengeance) कुर्वन्ति इति; पुंलिङ्ग, प्रथमा-विभक्ति, बहुवचन (subject-qualifier)

Characters & Entities

• Kaṁsa
• Kaṅka
• Nyagrodhaka

FAQs

Who are Kaṅka and Nyagrodhaka in Srimad Bhagavatam 10.44?

They are among Kaṁsa’s eight younger brothers who, after Kaṁsa’s fall, charged forward in anger to take revenge.

Why did Kaṁsa’s brothers attack after Kaṁsa was killed?

Overcome by grief and rage, they sought retaliation for their brother, rushing into the arena to confront Kṛṣṇa.

What is the practical lesson of this verse for modern life?

Blind revenge intensifies suffering and leads to further downfall; the Bhagavata repeatedly shows that dharma and self-control are higher than reactionary anger.